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Sponsors concerned about Ecclestone's TV strategy

Sponsors concerned about Ecclestone's TV strategy

  • Published on 12 Mar 2015 11:21
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Sponsors have expressed concern about Bernie Ecclestone's television strategy for formula one. Increasingly, the trend has been away from free-to-air to subscription-based coverage of the full world championship, with the latest example being a new deal with Fox in Australia.

It is maximising revenue for the sport's commercial rights holder CVC, but contributing to a decline in actual worldwide television ratings, according to reports. The strategy "won't please mass-market brands like (Ferrari sponsor) Santander", said Mark Gallagher, former sponsorship boss at Red Bull.

In an internal broadcast report, Ecclestone argued in January that the change of tack is to embrace F1's "committed audience" rather than chase mere overall ratings. "Rather than just eyeballs watching formula one these are the people that support the sport," Ecclestone reportedly said.

But Zak Brown, head of Just Marketing who advise sponsors including Williams' Martini, told the Bloomberg news agency: "I have had a handful of comments from sponsors that they are concerned over the reduction in reach. No one questions the massive reach of formula one but people are hung up on the (declining) trend line," he added (GMM)
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  • TTAero

    Posts: 3

    I think Ecclestone has finally gone completely mad, this move can only reduce the sports following and it will include me.
    I've been an avid fan since Alan Jones won his title, I've been to more than half the Aus races and a number overseas but I'm not interested only being able to view half the races live and I can't justify subscribing to Fox so I guess for me it's by by F1

    • + 0
    • Apr 8 2015 - 01:26

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
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3 - May 5
United States of America
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Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
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Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
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5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
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United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
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United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
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Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
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Austria Red Bull Ring
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United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
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29 - Dec 1
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