F1 Fanatic

Like peteleeuk, I started watching the programme wanting to dislike it. I hate how we’re now forced to buy Sky to get full coverage, and I hate having to chose between BBC and Sky.

Overall I found the programme quite entertaining. I’m not sure how much they told me that I didn’t already know (I suspect next to nothing), but I thought it was well-presented nevertheless.

But the worst part was how they kept pushing upcoming programmes (i.e. the “Legends” thing). I know that Sky F1 is a commercial channel so there are going to be adverts, but surely they don’t need to push the same couple of programmes every 20 minutes.

Aside from that little niggle, I suspect Sky are going to do a good job. I’m not sure about Lazenby yet (he seemed a bit out-of-place), and I’m also not keen on Anthony Davidson (although he’ll probably get better at being on TV over time).

Aside from having to pay, the worst thing is that I’m going to have to chose between watching the BBC’s or Sky’s coverage. On one hand I really like Jake, EJ and DC- I think they’re fantastic together- but on the other hand I’m not sure the BBC can match Sky in terms of “post-race analysis”. BBC have 10 minutes after each race, plus an hour of Forum, whereas Sky can have as much air time as they want.

I think in the end I’m going to end up watching all the BBC when they get their live races, and then Sky’s post-race coverage later on. This way I don’t miss EJ and DC, but also get Sky’s analysis. I’m not too bothered about the commentary (unless it’s really terrible, which it won’t be)- I really like Brundle, but on the other hand I think DC is also very competent.

I watched it through a stream kindly provided on twitter.

It was nice, but there was nothing there that couldn’t have been done by the BBC with the same money. It’s fair to say the BBC managed similar last season, and all-season long. There was nothing we hadn’t seen before besides the ‘SkyPad’, which is BSkyB-talk for ‘fingerpainting on the screen’.

And that ‘Fenners’ guy was an idiot. An idiot’s guide to F1 for idiots. If I was new to the sport, I wouldn’t want to be talked down to like that. It would just put me off.

I totally agree with @ajokay. I was also able to watch the show through a steam link and was a bit horrified really. I mean when BBC restarted the broadcast they were spot on from the start and that’s not the case with SKY. Look I’m from Belgium and you people can understand that in this little country there is no station with enough money for a descent broadcast like the BBC. When the BBC restarted it came like a gift from heaven and now it is slowly taken away from us Belgians. We can’t get SKY here and simply don’t want it. Thank god I speak German and also can watch RTL coverage with Abel and Lauda but still…..

I foresee dark clouds over the British F1 coverage because somehow I feel SKY is going to try to buy out BBC to give up the remaining coverage rights thus far ending the free-to-watch coverage. The quality of British broadcasting is under serious threat!

I wasn’t happy with how the BBC gave away our F1 coverage to SKY
However I enjoyed the preview show and have no problems with the girls, the BBC also used girls!
Always thought DC to opionated and rubbish at commentary, Crofty will be an improvement
Jordan was entertaining at times but annoying at other times
I beleive as the racing begins the SKY team will get into the grove

And that ‘Fenners’ guy was an idiot. An idiot’s guide to F1 for idiots. If I was new to the sport, I wouldn’t want to be talked down to like that. It would just put me off.

@ajokay I agree with this a *million* times!!

@CarrickMark

However I enjoyed the preview show and have no problems with the girls, the BBC also used girls!

Think you’ve rather grabbed at the wrong end of the stick there. No one is saying there should be no female presenters on F1, only that the presenters that are there should be there on motorsport merit. Georgie Thompson does not seem to have any reason to be in an F1 program, neither does (male) Fenners. It is also worth noting that GT is currently banned from driving after being convicted of drink driving last September, making her even less of an ideal candidate for this role.
I don’t know that anyone on the BBC F1 coverage, male or female, was there to be a pretty face?

sorry, perhaps i should’ve expanded the “dead” comment slightly….
MY viewing of F1 on BBC is dead. Probably.
My main reason being that MB has gone to Sky and i enjoy his commentary immensely.

I have to say i enjoyed the coverage, it will be interesting to see what it is going to be like this weekend for the Oz GP. I also have been watching some of their season reviews and found them really interesting, there is so much more radio coverage etc on the reviews that makes it quite interesting viewing.

I am like most going to see what it is like and then make a decision on who to watch for the chinese GP