Formula E 2018/19
Discussion
First race is December 15th, it's been announced that BBC will have live coverage online/red button/iPlayer, and something on a BBC channel too. This is as well as the live races being shown on Youtube. Whether they take the world feed or have their own coverage and presenters is all TBC.
https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/140014/bbc-to-sc...
https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/140014/bbc-to-sc...
Kraken said:
Not really. What other new motorsport series is there that gets mainstream coverage? All of those that do have been around for decades and built up an audience when the only way to watch was on traditional TV.
It's a very different world now.
It is but this started on ITV, went to ITV2 and ITV4 then Channel 5 and then Spike5 and they all ditched it. It's not picked up viewers and even with manufacturers joining in and F1 known drivers it does not seem they want to watch it.It's a very different world now.
telecat said:
Kraken said:
Not really. What other new motorsport series is there that gets mainstream coverage? All of those that do have been around for decades and built up an audience when the only way to watch was on traditional TV.
It's a very different world now.
It is but this started on ITV, went to ITV2 and ITV4 then Channel 5 and then Spike5 and they all ditched it. It's not picked up viewers and even with manufacturers joining in and F1 known drivers it does not seem they want to watch it.It's a very different world now.
t channel a lot of people will assume it's st. I know I'm guilty of that. I'll watch it because it's on the BBC.Also the product has changed - Gen2 cars - faster, better looking, and no more mid-race car swaps. I'm looking forward to it.
Every time i have caught FE, its been on some st, narrow town centre track which has made the racing itself acutely boring, let alone sounding like a bed frame being pushed down a cobbled street.
Need better tracks to start with. Some noise from the motor would be nice, at least have a cooling fan howling.
t, narrow town centre track which has made the racing itself acutely boring, let alone sounding like a bed frame being pushed down a cobbled street.Need better tracks to start with. Some noise from the motor would be nice, at least have a cooling fan howling.
Mr_Thyroid said:
Or maybe Formula E sees the BBC as the best platform for increasing their audience. If it's on a st channel a lot of people will assume it's st. I know I'm guilty of that. I'll watch it because it's on the BBC.
Also the product has changed - Gen2 cars - faster, better looking, and no more mid-race car swaps. I'm looking forward to it.
Yep, for me with it moving to the BBC (even if it's just online / red button based) it will be far easier to follow the races this season & know when it's on.t channel a lot of people will assume it's st. I know I'm guilty of that. I'll watch it because it's on the BBC.Also the product has changed - Gen2 cars - faster, better looking, and no more mid-race car swaps. I'm looking forward to it.
The last couple of years that Viacom (C5) had the coverage was dire - they barely ran any promotion / ads, so without checking the FE site or setting an alert you'd generally not even be aware when it was being broadcast, especially when sometimes it wasn't even clear which channel it was on as at times it was split between C5, 5Star & 5Spike.
FE is obviously aimed towards a younger market hence the YouTube tie-in's. I believe this season they're even using YouTube personalities & influencers for presenting duties etc. I'm certainly not in the younger age bracket that FE are aiming for / marketing at but i enjoy the racing so by adding the BBC online / RB coverage it gives them a guaranteed fixed broadcast slot in the UK market for those who aren't using YouTube, etc, so i can see why they've done it.
Edited by AlexRS2782 on Wednesday 14th November 18:34
Kraken said:
It's new compared to every other motorsport series that is on TV. They've all been around for decades.
I can't think of any motorsport series established in the last 20, 30 or even 40 years that has mainstream or even any terrestrial coverage in it's own right.
Really? Caterhams, VW Cup, F Jedi. ELMS. There are a number. I can't think of any motorsport series established in the last 20, 30 or even 40 years that has mainstream or even any terrestrial coverage in it's own right.
Truth is that any series can get airtime if someone pays for it. Which is what FE are doing.
REALIST123 said:
Kraken said:
It's new compared to every other motorsport series that is on TV. They've all been around for decades.
I can't think of any motorsport series established in the last 20, 30 or even 40 years that has mainstream or even any terrestrial coverage in it's own right.
Really? Caterhams, VW Cup, F Jedi. ELMS. There are a number. I can't think of any motorsport series established in the last 20, 30 or even 40 years that has mainstream or even any terrestrial coverage in it's own right.
Truth is that any series can get airtime if someone pays for it. Which is what FE are doing.
Gary C said:
Every time i have caught FE, its been on some st, narrow town centre track which has made the racing itself acutely boring, let alone sounding like a bed frame being pushed down a cobbled street.
Need better tracks to start with. Some noise from the motor would be nice, at least have a cooling fan howling.
Are they not using the full layout Monaco this season? That should be interesting. I've not paid it too much mind in previous years but with more manufacters getting involved and no more silly mid race car swapping I'll try and give this season a fair chance.t, narrow town centre track which has made the racing itself acutely boring, let alone sounding like a bed frame being pushed down a cobbled street.Need better tracks to start with. Some noise from the motor would be nice, at least have a cooling fan howling.
telecat said:
Kraken said:
Not really. What other new motorsport series is there that gets mainstream coverage? All of those that do have been around for decades and built up an audience when the only way to watch was on traditional TV.
It's a very different world now.
It is but this started on ITV, went to ITV2 and ITV4 then Channel 5 and then Spike5 and they all ditched it. It's not picked up viewers and even with manufacturers joining in and F1 known drivers it does not seem they want to watch it.It's a very different world now.
There's some interesting drivers this season though, and without the mickey mouse car change too I might give it a chance. Shame about the noise, sorry for the obligatory noise moan but the things remind me of ultrasonic dog/cat repellers that only teenagers and me can hear. Wasn't it steven Spielberg who said 90% of a movie was in the soundtrack?
Kraken said:
REALIST123 said:
Kraken said:
It's new compared to every other motorsport series that is on TV. They've all been around for decades.
I can't think of any motorsport series established in the last 20, 30 or even 40 years that has mainstream or even any terrestrial coverage in it's own right.
Really? Caterhams, VW Cup, F Jedi. ELMS. There are a number. I can't think of any motorsport series established in the last 20, 30 or even 40 years that has mainstream or even any terrestrial coverage in it's own right.
Truth is that any series can get airtime if someone pays for it. Which is what FE are doing.
Where did you say ‘live’?
Caterhams have been regularly aired on C4 in recent years, as have others.
If you want apples or pears ask for them at the beginning.
telecat said:
Just shows the lack of interest really. No Pay TV platform is interested and the FTA channels don't reckon they'll get enough viewers.
The business model of Formula E is different to F1. It guarantees manufacturers and sponsors free-to-air TV in key territories and, IIRC, does not charge the broadcasters for the rights to broadcast, though the broadcasters have to commit to a certain level of commitment in terms of airtime, promotion and resource so they still have to 'bid' for it.Worth remembering too that F1 began in 1950 (notwithstanding the Grand Prix period before this) and took until the mid to late 80s before it enjoyed widespread and regular TV coverage, despite the efficient, technical means of coverage existing from the mid 60s.
There is growing interest in Formula E and not just in the UK. I think the mistake many traditional motor racing fans make is to consider it as a rival to F1 - which it isn't. It's just a different series in the same way WEC, BTCC, Rallying or Indy is. For those brought up on a diet of Castrol R and V8, V10s or whatever, it may not yet light any fires but with an open mind, you do find a series that's rather interesting and there has been some great racing.
HustleRussell said:
Gen 2 cars may begin to make this a credible race series
I think it's going to feel much more like a traditional single-seater racing series without the car swap, although as you say it has other problems as well. I don't think we're seeing to see them move away from Mickey Mouse street circuits, even F1 is moving towards them. Thought i'd bump this as it's this weekend.
If you can't watch the race live via the BBC red button / website - Quest appear to have gained the rights to the UK highlights package and will be showing a condensed package later on the same day as the race - most likely once the EFL highlights have finished.
If you can't watch the race live via the BBC red button / website - Quest appear to have gained the rights to the UK highlights package and will be showing a condensed package later on the same day as the race - most likely once the EFL highlights have finished.
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