Highlights of AUTOSPORT Awards 2013 to be shown on Sky Sports F1

Sky Sports F1 are to screen highlights of this year’s AUTOSPORT Awards, it has been confirmed today.

As noted by the channel’s assistant producer, Neil Wooding on Twitter: “There will be a programme from the Awards on the #SkyF1 channel soon. Timings and details to follow.”

From AUTOSPORT’s perspective, I assume the reason they choose to not stream it live, unlike in 2011, is a cost issue. Why the two parties cannot come to an agreement and bang their heads together, thus allowing the Awards to be shown live on Sky Sports F1 and streamed online, I don’t know. It is madness, and the fans lose out, again. Either that, or someone high up in the Sky Sports F1 chain just does not think the Awards are important to show live.

Fans vote in these awards, so they should be able to watch it live via the internet or on TV. It is 2013, after all. As always, I’ll update the blog with schedule times.

Update on December 18th – The highlights are 60 minutes long, and will première on Christmas Day at 18:00.

Update on December 23rd – The first few air-times over the festive period are as follows:

– Wednesday 25th December, 18:00
– Wednesday 25th December, 23:30
– Friday 27th December, 19:00
– Friday 27th December, 23:40
– Tuesday 31st December, 19:00
– Thursday 2nd January, 18:00

Note that it is also on Sky+’s On Demand service for those with access to that.

US Grand Prix hits six year F1 ratings low

The United States Grand Prix recorded the lowest viewership for a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the United Kingdom in six years, unofficial overnight viewing figures show.

Coverage of the race, screened in highlights form on BBC One from 22:25, averaged 1.71m (15.4%). Sky Sports F1’s live coverage of the race itself, from 18:00 to 21:15, averaged a further 761k (3.0%). Both figures are down, BBC’s highlights show was down 510k on 2012, whilst Sky was down at least 55k on 2012, although the 2012 comparison is based on the 17:30 to 22:15 time slot, the channel having split their race day programme into three parts since.

The combined overnight viewership is therefore in the 2.5 million viewer region, the lowest for the race since at least 2006. The figure itself unofficially is the lowest for a Formula 1 race since the 2007 Bahrain Grand Prix, which was screened live on ITV to an audience of 2.54m (34.1%). Officially, the race is expected to the lowest rated Formula 1 race since at least 2008.

The 2012 United States Grand Prix ratings report can be found here.

BBC F1 vs Sky Sports F1: Your 2013 Verdict Revealed

Last Sunday, at the conclusion of the Brazilian Grand Prix, I asked for your opinion on the BBC and Sky Sports Formula 1 programming this season. Once again, the response from readers has been fantastic, with 21 comments on that post.

It should not be a surprise that the main topic of conversation was Suzi Perry’s role as BBC F1 presenter. In the comments that were made, it was difficult for me to find a positive, to be honest, with the main consensus that she is the weak link in the BBC team.

I have become increasingly tired of Suzi Perry tripping over her words when speaking live. I know that she has to do the tricky bit of listening to instructions in her ear and talking but even this last race was littered with minor errors that really grate after a while or is just me? Prime example: referred to the V8 engines in the build up show as being the “start of an era” or “the end of a new era”. – b1uenose

Suzi clearly is not a fan of F1 and it would certainly be best for all concerned if BT came calling for her for MotoGP. If that were to happen, I would hope that Lee McKenzie would get the job. – Sean

James Rowe makes a point that Perry’s presenting has meant that the standard of the forum has decreased compared with the high quality of 2012, however velvet argues that Perry has done well in 2013, when considering other previous efforts:

She was better than I thought, wish she’d stop tripping over her words but she was way more comfortable in this arena than Simon [Lazenby] was at first.

Whilst Perry has been criticised above, it appears the jury is still out on Lazenby, with several readers believing Sky are better off looking elsewhere:

Don’t get me started on Lazenby, no idea why Sky haven’t replaced him yet. – marc

For Sky, get rid of Lazenby for anybody else, along with Herbert, he seems far too smug and in your face, shall we say. – James Rowe

Connor McDonagh is more positive about Lazenby, but is not as impressed with Herbert’s contributions:

I disliked Lazenby but have started to like him a bit more, his presenting has improved and making it better for the viewers. Some of Herbert’s comments are ridiculous and offer no insight whatsoever such as ”You need a car which drives well”, however I like Johnny, can be quite funny alongside [Damon] Hill.

Another key subject was the commentary, with readers on the whole leaning towards the Ben Edwards and David Coulthard combination on the BBC:

I can’t put my finger on it but [Martin] Brundle seems to have lost his shine and Coulthard has overtaken him. It could be down to Coulthard being experienced with modern cars or just that he’s fresher to commentary than Brundle. Also, I can’t stand [David] Croft, his voice grates on me and his excitement sounds forced. – marc

In terms of commentary, BBC wins this. Ben Edwards is one of, if not the best commentator around and with Coulthard alongside him, they create an almost unbeatable duo. Gary Anderson’s snippets during commentary is also very useful, especially when he makes the strategies easy to understand. David Croft for Sky is far too shouty. The emotion which he tries to portray sounds forced and ruins it for me, although Brundle is still a vital asset to Sky. – James Rowe

While the BBC commentary is a highlight with readers, it appears the BBC highlight shows themselves are not winning readers over, JackiJam was particularly damming:

The coverage of the Austin, Texas race was abysmally poor, and the so called ‘replays’ of live coverage were nothing more than highlights, often less than 1.5 hours.

The point that Sky only have drivers’ as pundits was raised by velvet, however others say that Sky’s coverage has improved versus 2012:

Fantastic coverage, loads of insights, Ted Kravitz, Martin [Brundle] and Anthony [Davidson] really make the coverage of races and practices amazing. Testing coverage has made the channel come alive this year and is great to see a channel do so. – Chris Robey

I’ll finish this piece with one comment, which is some food for thought:

Ultimately though I don’t think either side is near the level of BBC from 2009 to 2011. – Sean

There are a lot more comments on the original blog post, some of which are really worth reading, but the above is just a little taster on what blog readers are talking about.

Sky Sports F1 to repeat every classic race through December

Having F1 withdrawal symptoms? I think you will like the title of this article… yes, that is right, Sky Sports F1 are repeating every single one of their 2013 classic races throughout December! Fantastic news, and one I am very, very happy to see.

I won’t go through the individual commentators for each race, but below is Sky Sports F1’s Classic F1 schedule through December. Enjoy!

Monday 2nd December
20:00 to 22:15 – 1999 Australian Grand Prix
22:15 to 00:45 – 1999 Malaysian Grand Prix

Tuesday 3rd December
21:15 to 23:30 – 2007 Chinese Grand Prix
23:45 to 02:15 – 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix

Wednesday 4th December
20:15 to 22:30 – 2011 Spanish Grand Prix
22:30 to 01:00 – 2003 Monaco Grand Prix

Thursday 5th December
20:00 to 20:45 – 1991 Canadian Grand Prix Highlights
21:00 to 23:00 – 2003 British Grand Prix

Friday 6th December
21:00 to 22:00 – 1993 German Grand Prix Highlights
23:00 to 01:00 – 1998 Belgian Grand Prix

Saturday 7th December
11:00 to 13:00 – 2001 Italian Grand Prix
15:00 to 17:45 – 2008 Singapore Grand Prix
18:45 to 22:15 – 2010 Korean Grand Prix
23:15 to 00:45 – 1989 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights

Sunday 8th December
14:30 to 16:45 – 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
18:00 to 20:00 – 2007 United States Grand Prix
21:00 to 23:30 – 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix

Monday 9th December
16:00 to 22:15 – Australian Grands Prix
=> 2003, 2007 and 2010

Tuesday 10th December
16:00 to 00:45 – Malaysian Grands Prix
=> 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2010

Wednesday 11th December
16:00 to 01:00 – Chinese Grands Prix
=> 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011

Thursday 12th December
16:00 to 01:00 – Bahrain Grands Prix
=> 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010

Friday 13th December
15:45 to 19:00 – Spanish Grands Prix Highlights
=> 1986, 1991, 1994 and 1996

Saturday 14th December
17:30 to 19:00 – Monaco Grands Prix Highlights
=> 1992 and 1996
19:30 to 22:00 – 2008 Monaco Grand Prix
22:30 to 01:00 – 2011 Monaco Grand Prix

Sunday 15th December
16:00 to 16:45 – 1995 Canadian Grand Prix Highlights
16:45 to 19:00 – 2008 Canadian Grand Prix
19:30 to 22:15 – 2011 Canadian Grand Prix

Monday 16th December
16:00 to 18:00 – 1987 British Grand Prix
19:30 to 20:10 – 1994 British Grand Prix Highlights
20:10 to 22:10 – 2008 British Grand Prix

Tuesday 17th December
16:00 to 18:15 – 2000 German Grand Prix
19:30 to 21:30 – 2005 German Grand Prix
22:00 to 00:00 – 2011 German Grand Prix

Wednesday 18th December
16:00 to 17:30 – Hungarian Grands Prix Highlights
=> 1986 and 1993
19:30 to 22:00 – 1997 Hungarian Grand Prix
22:30 to 00:45 – 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix

Thursday 19th December
16:00 to 16:40 – 1985 Belgian Grand Prix Highlights
16:40 to 18:40 – 2000 Belgian Grand Prix
19:30 to 21:30 – 2008 Belgian Grand Prix
22:00 to 00:00 – 2010 Belgian Grand Prix

Friday 20th December
16:00 to 17:30 – Italian Grands Prix Highlights
=> 1988 and 1995
19:30 to 21:30 – 2010 Italian Grand Prix

Saturday 21st December
16:00 to 18:45 – 2009 Singapore Grand Prix
19:30 to 22:15 – 2010 Singapore Grand Prix
22:45 to 01:30 – 2011 Singapore Grand Prix

Sunday 22nd December
16:00 to 18:30 – 2011 Korean Grand Prix

Monday 23rd December
15:45 to 16:45 – 1994 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights
16:45 to 19:00 – 1998 Japanese Grand Prix
19:30 to 00:15 – Japanese Grands Prix
=> 2000 and 2007

Christmas Eve
15:45 to 18:00 – 2011 Indian Grand Prix

Christmas Day
15:45 to 18:00 – 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
19:30 to 22:00 – 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Boxing Day
16:00 to 19:15 – United States Grands Prix Highlights
– 1983, 1984, 1987 and 1991

Friday 27th December
18:00 to 20:00 – 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix
20:00 to 20:40 – 1993 Brazilian Grand Prix Highlights
20:40 to 22:40 – 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix

That breaks down as 78 classic races. 21 in highlights form and 57 in full race form, assuming I’ve counted properly. It does include the Bahrain’s of this world, but hey, it is F1 in December. I’m really happy to see this, and this is what I envisaged the channel would be used for during the off season. I do not normally praise Sky Sports F1’s schedule, but this is brilliant to see in my view.

Me personally? I won’t tune in every night, but it will be great to flick the channel on one evening and be taken straight into a classic F1 race. Hopefully Sky publicise all of this, because it would be real shame to see it go under the radar.

Will these be shown again in January? The fact that they are all being shown all in December suggests not. Schedules only go to New Year’s Eve, what is happening beyond then, I don’t know. As always there may well be timing adjustments and the such like above, as I always I’ll update the blog.

BBC F1 versus Sky Sports F1: Your 2013 Verdict

The Brazilian Grand Prix is over and another season of Formula 1 has passed. It may not have been the most enthralling season ever, with Sebastian Vettel in command of the championship from the Summer, but it has been an interesting affair nevertheless. The BBC F1 Forum and Sky Sports F1 race day programmes have gone off air for the final time this season.

I’ve illustrated many times on this blog the positives and negatives of both BBC and Sky this season. But, like I did this time last year, it is time for you to have your say.

The comments section is open for everyone to comment, so get your BBC and Sky thoughts in below this post. Where do you think BBC’s and Sky’s weaknesses are? What would you change for 2014? How do you think both sides compare to 2012 now that we are firmly into a new era of Formula 1 broadcasting in the UK? And of course whilst the main focus of the blog is F1, comments about the wider broadcasting spectrum are more than welcome.

The best thoughts will be put into a new blog post in a few weeks time.