In Formula 1 there are two types of fan, the hardcore fan and the casual fan. Every hardcore fan that doesn't have access to Sky is extremely annoyed to say the least. Knowing the result only tells part of the story of the race, a story that can only be told properly live and uninterrupted.
Using football as a comparable, audiences on sky could be less than a third of what the BBC attracts, audiences were at a ten year high last season so teams and sponsors will be watching viewing figures closely. If only 2 million rather than 7million people will see their brand across the cars, will sponsorship deals be slashed, resulting in less money for designing the cars etc?
The problem is if you haven't got sky but want to watch the big football match of the week, it will be shown in pubs everywhere, but with race times varying so much, who wants to get up and go to the pub at 7am?
If hardcore fans and teams worst fears become reality, could this be the beginning of the end of formula 1?
But on the other side of the coin, could this be a genius idea to make it more appealing to new fans and more enjoyable for the casual fan? Critics and people that don't really understand f1 will say things like 'the only good bits are the start and the pit stops, with minimal track excitement.' They could have a point. Would they be more willing to watch a highlights show, on a couple of hours after the race? Would missing a few laps behind a safety car, or a couple where drivers are waiting for their next pit stop really effect the spectacle? The casual market could prosper with the new BBC setup, get more fans tuning in and understanding what F1 is about.
Whether it loses any fans or gains others, if money drops out the sport or more comes in, or if this really is the beginning of the end of formula 1 as we know it, Only time (and viewing figures) will tell.
BBC F1 homepage
Sky Sports F1 homepage
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