Channel 4 to broadcast race highlights, British GP in 2019
- Published on 12 Sep 2018 10:14
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- By: Fergal Walsh
Channel 4 has confirmed that it will continue to show race highlights of the 2019 Formula 1 season, as well as a live broadcast of the British Grand Prix. The station's current contract for showing live races expires at the end of the 2018 season.
It has held sharing rights with Sky since 2016, while Sky previously held a similar contract with BBC from 2012. Sky shows every race live on its committed F1 channel, while BBC/Channel 4 has rights to broadcast around half of the Grands Prix live.
There were concerns that F1 disappearing behind a pay-per-view system next year could damage viewing numbers in the UK and Ireland. While Sky holds exclusive rights until the end of the 2024 season, Channel 4 viewers will still be able to watch highlight packages next year.
“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to establish such an exciting and innovative partnership with Sky which will ensure that the British Grand Prix and highlights of the 2019 Formula 1 Championship remain available on free-to-air television for UK viewer,” said Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon.
Stephen van Rooyen, CEO of Sky UK and Ireland added: "Today’s partnership is the start of a new era of collaboration between Sky, Channel 4 and, we hope, other British broadcasters. Not only will this innovative partnership benefit viewers, watching via Sky or free-to-air, but it will further strengthen the ecosystem of UK broadcasters and British originated content.”
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Replies (8)
Login to replykngrthr
Posts: 203
sounds like the same shit we get here in australia.
completely impossibe to follow the race because you only see maybe 20 laps
samuelw
Posts: 21
hate sky and hate BBC more for selling out rather than passing the whole tv rights to c4 if bbc were broke...
although bbc prob would still have been able to afford it if bernie was not a greedy ar$e in the day, 2 selling half rights to sky was a total betrayal to the F1 fans in the UK.
now soon its behind a pay wall.. smaller viewing figures.. well done chaps.. another nail!
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Same back when SVT and TV4 sold their rights to F1 to Viasat. Now its nearly unwatchable unless you have the complete Viasat pack, and that shit is really expensive. Way to make your series exclusive and to decrease fan interest.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Sky does have great coverage and worth the price if you can find it for free on race day. And now a word of thanks to the pirates out there who stream and upload races to the internet. Thanks whoever you are.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Oh for sure, Sky has one of the best coverages, and are far more priceworthy than Viasat. Lets just say I'd love for F1TV to be accessible in Sweden.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
@calle came here looking for your vitriol against Viasat lol. Wasn't dissapointed.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Heheh, well, I find 72 Euro (used to be 82) a month for channels I dont need just to be able to watch F1 just a tad excessive. You cant just buy their standard pack to do so, you need their premium pack.
Ram Samartha
Posts: 1,172
In other words Sky gives us crumbs or nothing, so crumbs it is. What a great collaboration they have given us. OK by me, never been a big DC fan anyway.