I completely disagree. Sky are the worst possible choice for F1 fans; their involvement threatens the long term future of the sport itself. I am amazed at your position on this AGâ¦
It's a step in the right direction... Hopefully we, as F1 fans, continue to voice our disappointment about the deal and make the BBC think very hard about what they have done.
Well, illegal streaming or illegal cable boxes are the only option to watch the drivers and teams I love...
i would personally prefer it on itv or c4 with adverts than on that stupid sky sports thing! at least someone is lsitening to us fans! lets hope that the MP's force them to overturn the decision! the government is the BBC's boss however as they make people pay the licence fee!!
Sky aren't having adverts mid-race. So you're getting full coverage of half the races for free (on the BBC) rather than seeing half of each race like we had on ITV. ITV and Five are terrible unless you want tabloid talk shows, reality TV or dodgy porn films. Channel 4 are a decent broadcaster, but they don't have the capacity to pull something like this off, we all saw what happened to Setanta. So it's either BBC or Sky, and the BBC clearly prefer to spend their budget on Eastenders and Top Gear. Fair enough criticising the BBC for getting their priorities mixed up, but if the public continue to watch crap like Strictly Come Dancing their hands are tied. And Sky clearly provide better coverage than anyone else, Goals on Sunday is infinitely better than Match of the Day, and ask anyone who has Sky whether they watch the Champions League final on Sky or ITV. People are blowing this massively out of proportion. F1 is a global sport, the TV broadcaster in one country is hardly going to threaten it. Besides, Sky has been carrying German and Austrian coverage since the mid-nineties and no one's ever kicked off about that.
Absolutely. Ultimately the BBC, as the propaganda arm of the government; is part of the ruling mechanism which we call government. Essentially, the BBC is both an agent of and a part of the government! We should also keep in mind that Murdoch is currently under the scrutiny of (ahem) 'our' government; and we should wonder at the inter-connectedness of mechanisms which have not only resulted in this particular betrayal of the British public but also perpetrated Murdoch's abuse of our media for more than 40 years! Thus, we should not be too surprised at any (ahem) 'connectedness' with the BBC (the government's media agency) and we should not expect anything more than a placatory, "Look Rupert, we've got to go through this process for the sake of credibility; but you'll come out of it OK. Nod's as good as a wink. Just remember who helped you out OK?"… It makes me sick. The British public are being abused and that is why I cancelled my Sky subscription. P.S. I am being pestered by them now and they even expect me to call them back on their premium rate phone numbers! I have even discovered that, should any subscriber find some problem with their (ahem) service, there is no available Freephone number by which they can notify Sky of the problem!! - Yet again, they have to pay through the nose simply to be able to register their fault!!! This is an abuse. Sky needs to be removed and kicked out: not just from my home but from the long-suffering, over-tolerant, indefinitely patient people of this country…
I agree, Sky are manipulative people and should not be allowed this much access to sport as there is no competition in the market.
How the hell can you know they wouldn't show adverts, the contract isn't even finalized yet its not like football where you can stick the adverts in at half time, and saying we are getting half the races free total bollocks if we want to watch all the races we can't just buy half a sky package Do you work in an arcade somewhere trying to flog sky packages to passers by?
Sky have said they won't. Half of them are still being shown on BBC. Max: Channel 4 obviously would show adverts because they'd need to cover the cost of buying the rights.
AbsolutelyGlorious; People are blowing this massively out of proportion. F1 is a global sport, the TV broadcaster in one country is hardly going to threaten it. Besides, Sky has been carrying German and Austrian coverage since the mid-nineties and no one's ever kicked off about hat. Germany and Austria also had Hitler and we didn't put up with that prick either. Edit 600 quid a year may be **** all to you but some of us ain't so fortunate.
So basically you think charging people a few hundred quid to watch TV is comparable with the slaughter of millions of people.
AG, Channel 4 could show lots of ads immediately pre and post race, although I think they would more likely slip some in where there's usually a lull in the action in the latter part of the race. Anyway, at this stage we're firmly in the realm of speculation. Cosi, I agree absolutely with your last post but I would like to add that Murdoch has made a lot of enemies within Westminster over many years and this is also worth bearing in mind.
AG: I consider your view on this to be naïve. Who do you think CVC are going to eventually sell-out to? Who do you think will be in the best position to take advantage when (unless it's stopped by a long-term public revolt) it happens? Have you considered the long-term view at all? When (if allowed to further his ambitions) Murdoch takes control of F1, F1 will be entirely at his mercy! And when one considers his track(sic) record, one is forced to conclude this will result in further exploitation of the public who he is forcing to pay for his own indulgence! It is little short of downright extortion, as the natural result of monopolising the whole thing; and be in no doubt that he does not give a monkey's armpit about the service he will graciously disseminate amongst His People! This man is on cruise control to founding his own dynasty (please put the emphasis on the last two syllables). If you want to capitulate to such ambitions - as already demonstrated by this man who shows contempt for the laws of a nation and total disrespect to its people with such disgraceful and intrusive methodologies - so be it. But fortunately a lot of people are smelling what could be a far less rosy future than your comforting benevolence suggests.
Yes. Fortunately there are some in government who have not yet been drawn in (or compromised). Let us hope that they have enough back-bone to continue to express the voice of the people against an élite who are happy to have their palms greased. Be in no doubt: it is patently obvious that Murdoch and his cronies have already bribed the establishment of this country. Our Police Force have been compromised and it can surely be in no doubt that other trusted people have fallen into line (with Murdoch's long-term aims) by turning a blind-eye to illegal activities which betray the public faith in those who (ahem) *lead this country. *"Command" is probably more accurate. "Dictate" would be going a little too far…
I have the right to watch a sport that brings me my psychological pleasure, then somebody who wants to make a lot of money from it is willing to pretty much give me an ultimatum... "Pay me monthly, or you dont get it". Now how do you think I feel having that done to me on a psychological level? Happy? pissed off? distressed? Probably the last 2 sum it up for me. Face it, this can be compared to being forced by a drug dealer to pay more for my fix, is it fair? Should I get over it? Sooner or later, people will accept PPV, sooner or later people will get so depressed, unable to enjoy anything anymore because the rich like to manipulate a situation to their wallets. It should be a human right to enjoy sport, but of course money stops that happening and huge companies are just ready to piss on your life on everything giving it to an "exclusive club". So what do people suggest I do now? take up knitting? or take up MMORPG's again? Seems my generation is being forced to do that at the moment, becoming vegetables behind a flipping console, the only bloody damn option now... World has shrunk over 1 year to just my house, cant go anywhere without somebody trying to take all my money. Paying to go see it live yes, to see it on a box and pay the equal price, maybe more? you can kiss my arse.
You are really winding me up now but I reckon that is your intent, you know perfectly well what I mean. Just because people like you are prepared to be walked all over by multi national greedy bastards doesn't mean we are all going to lay down and be **** on. Murdoch is on a mission to control the media, all media! Because in this day and age information, especially the control of information it is the ultimate power, with information you can destroy governments and control who will next get elected. Murdoch and his spawn are megalomaniacs, and should in no way have the influence they have at the moment let alone be allowed to have even more. Have you never seen Eclestone rubbing shoulders with the oil rich families of the middle east, the king of spain, the prince of Monaco, the rulers and leaders of anywhere the F1 circus goes, Murdoch does not Just want to have the rights to charge for F1 he wants to own it outright, just so he can get the action Bernie the bastard is currently basking in. Anyone who can tap a dead girls phone and give a family false hope is the scum of the earth, the only thing he is good for is to wipe dog **** off of my shoes using his face.