The benefits of putting Indy 500 on Sky Sports F1

There are several reasons why this weekend’s Indy 500 should be shown on Sky Sports F1 and not Sky Sports 4. The current schedule has it on Sky Sports 4 from 16:30 to 21:00.

The first reason is quite a simple one. It’s promoted as “the world’s greatest motor race” (or something along those lines, I can’t remember the exact wording), yet it’s on the least viewed of Sky Sports’ channels? Is that not a oxymoron? Sticking with that train of thought, would it not make sense to have the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indy 500 on the same channel one after the other? That sounds like a motor racing fan’s heaven – which is exactly what Sky Sports F1 should be. All the motor sport fans are likely to be watching Sky Sports F1, which is another reason for moving it there.

In terms of Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports 4, which is better, the answer is Sky Sports F1, as it reaches more people. During the Spanish Grand Prix week, Sky Sports F1 reached 2.444 million people, while Sky Sports 4 reached 1.929 million people. Although you could argue that the difference is only 513 thousand, in terms of audience profiles, the Indy 500 would be a much better fit on Sky Sports F1, where you could cross promote it a lot better than on Sky Sports 4. Let’s be honest, Sky Sports 4 is only for things that can’t be fitted anywhere on Sky Sports 1, 2 or 3.

Also, Sky Sports F1 is available to HD and Sport subscribers, meaning potentially a bigger audience for Indy 500, which could increase its audiences in the future. For the other races, I don’t think it matters as much, but if there’s one race which deserves priority on Sky Sports F1, it’s the Indy 500.

The only things I can see here are positives for Indy 500 and Sky Sports F1. So why is it not on Sky Sports F1? Who knows. Maybe Bernie says no? But then you could argue that two of the first few IndyCar races have been on Sky Sports F1, albeit due to scheduling clashes, but the point stands. In my opinion, it should be on Sky Sports F1. And I hope that it happens.

Ratings statistics in paragraph three are from BARB.

Scheduling: The Monaco Grand Prix

Formula 1 heads to the glitz and glamour of Monte Carlo this upcoming weekend with the Monaco Grand Prix. Both BBC One and Sky Sports F1 will be showing the coverage live this weekend. As is the tradition in Monaco, F1 Practice is held on Thursday’s instead of Friday’s. Also, as I noted on Thursday, there is a double dose for The F1 Show this weekend due to the different schedule.

If you like your classic Formula 1 action, then I would advice that you tune in to Sky Sports F1 from 09:00 tomorrow morning for nearly 15 hours of Classic F1 from Monaco. Back to the present day, however, here is the scheduling with all the times, including Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the GP2 and GP3 Series, which has a hideously early start on Friday morning!

Wednesday 23rd May
14:00 to 14:30 – F1: Driver Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)

Thursday 24th May
08:45 to 10:50 – F1: Practice 1 (Sky Sports F1)
08:55 to 10:35 – F1: Practice 1 (BBC Red Button)
10:55 to 11:35 – GP2: Practice (Sky Sports F1)
12:45 to 15:00 – F1: Practice 2 (Sky Sports F1)
12:55 to 14:35 – F1: Practice 2 (BBC Red Button)
15:00 to 15:30 – F1: Team Press Conference (Sky Sports F1)
15:50 to 16:35 – GP2: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
17:00 to 18:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)

Friday 25th May
06:35 to 07:20 – GP3: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
09:25 to 10:50 – GP2: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
11:25 to 12:15 – GP3: Race 1 (Sky Sports F1)
17:00 to 18:00 – The F1 Show (Sky Sports F1)

Saturday 26th May
09:45 to 11:10 – F1: Practice 3 (Sky Sports F1)
09:55 to 11:05 – F1: Practice 3 (BBC Red Button)
12:00 to 14:45 – F1: Qualifying (Sky Sports F1)
12:10 to 14:15 – F1: Qualifying (BBC One)
15:05 to 16:10 – GP2: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)
16:50 to 17:45 – GP3: Race 2 (Sky Sports F1)

Sunday 27th May
11:30 to 16:15 – F1: Race (Sky Sports F1)
12:05 to 15:30 – F1: Race (BBC One)
15:30 to 16:30 – F1: Forum (BBC Red Button)
16:30 to 20:00 – Indy 500 (Sky Sports 4)

As of writing, Indy 500 is still on Sky Sports 4, so if you only have Sky’s HD package, you will not be able to view it. I shall update this post if/when that changes.

And for the first time, I want your opinion. Which channel will you be watching for the Grand Prix weekend? I think I shall stick with Sky Sports, as I did for Spain, although that depends somewhat on the pundits. If Sky have Damon Hill only, then I may be forced in turning over to BBC, but if they have Johnny Herbert alongside Hill, or no Hill at all, then I will probably stick with Sky Sports F1.

Of course, there’s also an interesting point about location, with space tight, will both BBC and Sky be located on a boat somewhere, or will Sky go for a ‘high up’ studio like ITV did in their latter days? We shall see.

Comments, as always, welcome.

Double dose of The F1 Show next weekend

Due to practice being held on Thursday’s around the streets of Monte Carlo, Sky Sports will be airing two editions of The F1 Show live, the broadcaster has confirmed. The first edition will air next Thursday live at 17:00, with the second edition in it’s usual Friday slot live at 17:00.

I shall publish a full Monaco Grand Prix weekend schedule, support races, BBC TV and Sky TV next Monday, on this very blog!

Sky Sports F1 to screen Friday’s Team Press Conference live on channel

Following on from the decision to shown Thursday’s Driver Press Conference live on their channel starting from last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, it appears that they have made the same move with Friday’s Team Press Conference.

Due to the Monaco Grand Prix scheduling (where practice takes place on Thursday’s), the first Team Press Conference will air on Thursday 24th May at 15:00 on Sky Sports F1.

Sky Sports F1 in u-turn: Classic F1 races to be shown on the channel

In a u-turn for Sky Sports F1, if the EPG is to go by, it looks like Classic F1 is coming to Sky Sports F1 starting next Sunday:

1982 Monaco Grand Prix – 40 minutes
– Sunday 20th May, 09:00 to 09:40
– Wednesday 23rd May, 19:20 to 20:00

1983 Monaco Grand Prix – 40 minutes
– Sunday 20th May, 09:40 to 10:20
– Friday 25th May, 19:25 to 20:05

2007 Monaco Grand Prix – 2 hours, 15 minutes
– Sunday 20th May, 10:20 to 12:35
– Monday 21st May, 20:00 to 22:15

2008 Monaco Grand Prix – 2 hours, 40 minutes
– Sunday 20th May, 12:35 to 15:15
– Tuesday 22nd May, 20:00 to 22:40

2009 Monaco Grand Prix – 2 hours, 15 minutes
– Sunday 20th May, 15:15 to 17:30
– Wednesday 23rd May, 20:00 to 22:15

2010 Monaco Grand Prix – 2 hours, 25 minutes
– Sunday 20th May, 17:30 to 19:55
– Thursday 24th May, 21:05 to 23:30

2011 Monaco Grand Prix – 2 hours, 50 minutes
– Sunday 20th May, 20:00 to 22:50
– Friday 25th May, 21:05 to 23:55

The length of the 2007 Monaco Grand Prix suggests that particular full race will be shown. I shall update this post later if more races are to be shown next Sunday, but definitely a great move considering it is a dedicated channel. Martin Turner said in his Questions and Answers blog on the Sky Sports F1 website a month ago that Classic F1 races would not be shown, hence my surprise at the u-turn. The lack of Classic F1 races I noted in my ‘The Verdict so Far’ posts, specifically here, so I am very glad to see a u-turn.

UPDATE at 20:50: Now that the EPG has updated, we can see that Sky are showing ‘Classic’ Monaco Grand Prix’s throughout the day next Sunday. I’m not sure that classic is the apt word here, but either way Sky are showing highlights of the 1982 and 1983 Monaco Grand Prix, along with the full races of Monaco for 2007 through to 2012. The length of the broadcasts suggest that this will be the World Feed only, with adverts throughout. Either way, it is a very pleasing step to see Sky take, and definitely makes it more like a Formula 1 channel now. I assume that this shall continue throughout the season, but as always, time will tell.

FURTHER UPDATE on 15th May at 14:00: The Radio Times website has the full Sky Sports F1 schedule through for 2 weeks, so I have added the Classic Monaco Grand Prix details above.