My first watch of Sky F1 coverage
Discussion
This weekend was my first time watching the Sky F1 coverage after watching it on BBC for years.
I was shocked at how amateur it is at times, cutting off features before they have finished and poor presenting from "the team" in general. The ideas behind the features were good but the execution was poor imho.
I also caught one of the discussion programmes on Friday night that I believe was a repeat from earlier in the week, I'm sure I could have done better myself, the worst thing was the shaking of the cameras it was honestly like the cameraman had parkinsons, they kept cutting away but when they returned it was exactly the same.
Does anyone disagree/ agree or is it just me being picky?
I was shocked at how amateur it is at times, cutting off features before they have finished and poor presenting from "the team" in general. The ideas behind the features were good but the execution was poor imho.
I also caught one of the discussion programmes on Friday night that I believe was a repeat from earlier in the week, I'm sure I could have done better myself, the worst thing was the shaking of the cameras it was honestly like the cameraman had parkinsons, they kept cutting away but when they returned it was exactly the same.
Does anyone disagree/ agree or is it just me being picky?
Having never watched a Sky production, I cannot comment. But I do respect MB and his delivery, and miss him on the Beeb.I do enjoy DC though. Even his comment about the cars sounding like Massey Ferguson tractors.
That was the part which shocked me most, the noise is awful. The racing, well just as last season, just thoroughly boring in my opinion.
That was the part which shocked me most, the noise is awful. The racing, well just as last season, just thoroughly boring in my opinion.
I've never been a fan, during the actual race Martin and Crofty are good, not as good as Martin and DC were, but those days are over.
But the rest is a bit rubbish IMO, it's the classic more is more approach that Sky Sports love, huge team of people - don't worry if Damon Hill isn't to your taste, he's only one of four full-time former drivers, and they'll have a few more a special guests along the way, I believe by the end of 2014 they'll have more members than the So Solid Crew.
The actual show is about an hour longer than the BBC version (the full ones, not the highlights) at each end - which seems good if you're really into F1, but 3/4 of it is repeats of stuff from the F1 show, the remaining quarter being 6 versions of the new regulations using different graphics - all are hosted by Theodore Slotover, or Ted Kravitz as he likes to be called.
But the rest is a bit rubbish IMO, it's the classic more is more approach that Sky Sports love, huge team of people - don't worry if Damon Hill isn't to your taste, he's only one of four full-time former drivers, and they'll have a few more a special guests along the way, I believe by the end of 2014 they'll have more members than the So Solid Crew.
The actual show is about an hour longer than the BBC version (the full ones, not the highlights) at each end - which seems good if you're really into F1, but 3/4 of it is repeats of stuff from the F1 show, the remaining quarter being 6 versions of the new regulations using different graphics - all are hosted by Theodore Slotover, or Ted Kravitz as he likes to be called.
Brundle is Sky's trump card. David Croft is a decent commentator and he and Martin work well together.
Simon Lazenby is pretty crap. He's just a link-reader and doesn't seem to have developed much of a feel for or an insight into F1 at all.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert provide a bit of colour but aren't used to their or the viewers best advantage.
Ted Kravitz thinks that F1 cars don't have spark plugs.
Anthony Davidson delivers some real insight with his 3D slo-mo Sky pad video screen thing. He doesn't get much airtime though.
Natalie Pinkham asks silly soft questions and flatters the drivers.
Simon Lazenby is pretty crap. He's just a link-reader and doesn't seem to have developed much of a feel for or an insight into F1 at all.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert provide a bit of colour but aren't used to their or the viewers best advantage.
Ted Kravitz thinks that F1 cars don't have spark plugs.
Anthony Davidson delivers some real insight with his 3D slo-mo Sky pad video screen thing. He doesn't get much airtime though.
Natalie Pinkham asks silly soft questions and flatters the drivers.
rohrl said:
Brundle is Sky's trump card. David Croft is a decent commentator and he and Martin work well together.
Simon Lazenby is pretty crap. He's just a link-reader and doesn't seem to have developed much of a feel for or an insight into F1 at all.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert provide a bit of colour but aren't used to their or the viewers best advantage.
Ted Kravitz thinks that F1 cars don't have spark plugs.
Anthony Davidson delivers some real insight with his 3D slo-mo Sky pad video screen thing. He doesn't get much airtime though.
Natalie Pinkham asks silly soft questions and flatters the drivers.
Agree with all of this.Simon Lazenby is pretty crap. He's just a link-reader and doesn't seem to have developed much of a feel for or an insight into F1 at all.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert provide a bit of colour but aren't used to their or the viewers best advantage.
Ted Kravitz thinks that F1 cars don't have spark plugs.
Anthony Davidson delivers some real insight with his 3D slo-mo Sky pad video screen thing. He doesn't get much airtime though.
Natalie Pinkham asks silly soft questions and flatters the drivers.
Skys better than BBC from lights out to the flag. (Brundle is just unbeatable as a commentator.) For everything else BBC does it better (Althought i'm no big fan of EJ or Suzie Perry, and think losing Gary Anderton was a mistake.). I watch sky even when BBC is also live because its the race that matters most, but it would be nice to combine the best of both. That year we had Brundle and DC on comms was the peak for me.
I'd somehow forgot about the horror that is Simon Glazedonberyy - what was all that about The Ashes / Cricket?? The only time he seemed to come alive, is when he's talking about a different time of sport or interviews a sportsperson from outside of Motorsport - I'm not sure F1 is his thing.
I don't like it, the build up is far too long and boring and I especially can't stand Lazenby; he's an idiot and teh whole affair just comes across as too slick and fancy.
The presenters just don't seem to gel together and they are all stiff whereas on the BBC it all seems much more relaxed and fun, I read a good analogy elsewhere; Sky is like a Powerpoint presentation whereas the BBC was more like a few blokes down the pub having a conversation about it, which I think is pretty spot on.
The presenters just don't seem to gel together and they are all stiff whereas on the BBC it all seems much more relaxed and fun, I read a good analogy elsewhere; Sky is like a Powerpoint presentation whereas the BBC was more like a few blokes down the pub having a conversation about it, which I think is pretty spot on.
rohrl said:
Brundle is Sky's trump card. David Croft is a decent commentator and he and Martin work well together.
Simon Lazenby is pretty crap. He's just a link-reader and doesn't seem to have developed much of a feel for or an insight into F1 at all.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert provide a bit of colour but aren't used to their or the viewers best advantage.
Ted Kravitz thinks that F1 cars don't have spark plugs.
Anthony Davidson delivers some real insight with his 3D slo-mo Sky pad video screen thing. He doesn't get much airtime though.
Natalie Pinkham asks silly soft questions and flatters the drivers.
Nicely sums it up. You missed one very important element - Natalia Pinkman is also easy on the eye.Simon Lazenby is pretty crap. He's just a link-reader and doesn't seem to have developed much of a feel for or an insight into F1 at all.
Damon Hill and Johnny Herbert provide a bit of colour but aren't used to their or the viewers best advantage.
Ted Kravitz thinks that F1 cars don't have spark plugs.
Anthony Davidson delivers some real insight with his 3D slo-mo Sky pad video screen thing. He doesn't get much airtime though.
Natalie Pinkham asks silly soft questions and flatters the drivers.
I only bought Sky when the BBC stopped showing all the races and have not felt the urge to switch back even when the races are being shown on BBC.
As has been said, MB is the trump card in their team and the others are getting better all the time. Throw in all feature programmes and classic race re-runs they show between races and I think Sky F1 is good enjoyment for an F1 fan.
As has been said, MB is the trump card in their team and the others are getting better all the time. Throw in all feature programmes and classic race re-runs they show between races and I think Sky F1 is good enjoyment for an F1 fan.
Ive only watched F1 on Sky when it was free for a weekend, last season I think.
Personally, I prefer the BBC's coverage. Jake & now Suzi are much better than Sky's presenter. I dont mind that most races are highlights. Just cuts out most of the boring bits of the race. Dissapointed there is no Gary Anderson this season. I like having that bit of technical knowledge on the show. Hopefully they give Alan McNish a bit more air time.
Personally, I prefer the BBC's coverage. Jake & now Suzi are much better than Sky's presenter. I dont mind that most races are highlights. Just cuts out most of the boring bits of the race. Dissapointed there is no Gary Anderson this season. I like having that bit of technical knowledge on the show. Hopefully they give Alan McNish a bit more air time.
Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Monday 17th March 13:35
I had Sky for the first season they broadcast, but rely on the BBC now - after a misunderstanding about the consequences of temporarily cancelling the "legacy" HD pack (nobody at Sky told me that as a consequence, I would lose my entitlement to a "cheap" subscription to the F1 channel forever).
I agree that Martin Brundle is a superb commentator, but I'm not bothered in the slightest about the rest of their coverage. Frankly, I'll put up with the BBC offering worse coverage if it saves me from paying Sky £250 a year extra
Interested to know if anyone on PH pays specifically for Sky Sports (at £22 a month extra) purely to get the F1 channel (and hates football, cricket and rugby)? It just doesn't seem good value to me, but each to their own.
I agree that Martin Brundle is a superb commentator, but I'm not bothered in the slightest about the rest of their coverage. Frankly, I'll put up with the BBC offering worse coverage if it saves me from paying Sky £250 a year extra
Interested to know if anyone on PH pays specifically for Sky Sports (at £22 a month extra) purely to get the F1 channel (and hates football, cricket and rugby)? It just doesn't seem good value to me, but each to their own.
stevesuk said:
Interested to know if anyone on PH pays specifically for Sky Sports (at £22 a month extra) purely to get the F1 channel (and hates football, cricket and rugby)? It just doesn't seem good value to me, but each to their own.
I do but I managed to get 50% off the package for 12 months so have the full lot for about £35 a month, I wont be continuing after the 12 months though.Simon Lazenby is shockingly bad. They desperately need a better anchor man/woman and I'm surprised he's lasted this long.
MB and Crofty seem to go together well and I enjoy Ted Kravitz. Ant Davidson is a gem too. Pinkham is far, far superior to Georgie someone she replaced. Pinkham to replace Lazenby would, I think, work better than what we have now.
On the Beeb DC is the consummate professional and they'd be dead without him. Unfortunately Ben Edwards voice reminds me of track side commentators at grass roots motorsports events and it feels out of place. I know he got a pasting but I'd like to see James Allen given another shot at the commentary. They screwed up pushing/loosing Gary Anderson but Alan McNish is very enjoyable to listen too.
Neither are perfect and both have their flaws and problems. However Sky do have a load of additional F1 content which is great to watch. "Architects of F1", "F1 Legends".
MB and Crofty seem to go together well and I enjoy Ted Kravitz. Ant Davidson is a gem too. Pinkham is far, far superior to Georgie someone she replaced. Pinkham to replace Lazenby would, I think, work better than what we have now.
On the Beeb DC is the consummate professional and they'd be dead without him. Unfortunately Ben Edwards voice reminds me of track side commentators at grass roots motorsports events and it feels out of place. I know he got a pasting but I'd like to see James Allen given another shot at the commentary. They screwed up pushing/loosing Gary Anderson but Alan McNish is very enjoyable to listen too.
Neither are perfect and both have their flaws and problems. However Sky do have a load of additional F1 content which is great to watch. "Architects of F1", "F1 Legends".
Edited by Agent Orange on Monday 17th March 13:55
This is starting to sound like a Brundel fan club in here but I do have to agree. the only reason I went over to sky was having watched a few F1 races abroad with US commentators the one thing I missed most was his input into the whole show not just the commentating.
However Sky does have other attributes, I like the longer build ups and the fact they do the F1 show even though I had to turn it off the other day because of the cringeworthy display they put on with the people in the studio. I think they were trying to do top gear but failed. stop it stop it now.
However Sky does have other attributes, I like the longer build ups and the fact they do the F1 show even though I had to turn it off the other day because of the cringeworthy display they put on with the people in the studio. I think they were trying to do top gear but failed. stop it stop it now.
I picked up the coverage on the Now TV box, with a free voucher. All in all it was good. You can see, with some of their other F1 programming that they are aiming at the yoof market, with Ted's Notebook - a bit of a ramble - although I've only seen 1 and Pinkham's Intro to F1, which seemed a little dated in it's approach, but half interesting even though I've been interested in F1 and motorsport since the late 80s.
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