Poll: Are you going to pay?

[markfarrell9572]

I guess this applies only to fans in UK and Ireland.  How many of us are going to pay for Sky Sports next year?

[Canada Darrell™]

You should just change the question to "would you pay to get live F1 races?"......

Either way I felt I should vote because my answer either way is "no"

Cheers

[Alianora La Canta]

Since I don't have £120,000 in the bank to get a house that can get Sky, I don't even need to think about this.

[John S]

I really can't vote on the choices given, I want to keep watching the races live so I've got to investigate how I can do that for the lowest, or no cost.

If there is no internet coverage live my thought at the moment is to switch my BT account for phone and broadband to Virgin. I'll get a Broadband/Phone/TV package from this cable supplier, for about the same as the price I pay BT, and I can then purchase the relevant Sky Sport channel as an extra through Virgin.

Sorry guys n gals, I'm addicted I just can't face 'Cold Turkey' for several months of the year. 

One fly in the ointment though, Virgin used to be the dreaded NTL and I swore I would never give them another cent.    I'm between the Devil and the Murdoch's, it's very, very painful. 



 

[Ian]

Subscribe to sky ? Forget it.

[Neil.P]

I've cast my vote

Neil.P

[markfarrell9572]

We are sky subscribers, although not to sky sports, just the basic package, earlier this year I noticed 100 euro gone from my account for a service call out that never happened.  After a lot of heated phone calls (and I do mean a lot and I do mean heated) the money was refunded.  During this time sent me mail, to my old address, an address I hadn't lived in in four years, and which made me even more irate, especially as when we moved to the current house they charged me 75 euro for the move!  During one of my arguments with a sky rep I asked if I was to call a service rep where would he go?  They said to my old address.  I spoke to I think five people in Sky to make sure they finally got my address right.  They sent a letter confirming my change of address to.... my old address.

I hate sky, I hate their money grabbing ways, their total lack of customer service, but unfortunately its either them or Chorus (who are unbelievably worse), we have no BT or Virgin.

[lkjohnson1950]

This doesn't apply to me, but I do pay for F1. Though it is included in my Comcast Cable bill, not a separate purchase. Costs about 65-79 US a month for God knows how many channels only 15 or so of which we actually watch.

Lonny

[Andy B]

I have not voted but here in New Zealand have Sky Sports as its the only channel that has F1 all streamed from the BBC but I miss the pre and post race programes which I may get get once its coming direct from Sky.

I feel for those in the UK, if I was still there I would have Sky as I need my F1 live.

When Bernie first ventured into Sky I paid for the live practices and races (commentators Ben Edwards and John Watson) as they were not on free to air I worked on the theory that what I paid for a season I would pay to attend a singe race. I think that was 1994 as I saw the Barrichello and Ratzenberger crashes live.

Unfortunately I doubt any protests will change anyones mind.

[Andy B]

I was just reading this: -
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/08/03/skys-deal-damage-f1s-popularity-uk/
and this guy is saying that it is going to cost £61 per race? So what is the monthly cost of have Sky Sports in the UK here in NZ I pay $85 per month which is about £42 per month.

[Scott]

“For sure there are going to be a lot more people viewing,” reckons Ecclestone. Perhaps, but I suspect many will be watching illegal online video feeds."

You betcha Bernie...you ain't seen nothing yet if you think you've got pirate F1 broadcasts under control.   

[stealthhaggis]

I have to admit I do find it funny that Bernie is taking the blame, he will just take the money of whoever. the BBC are fully to blame for this, they approached Sky and worked with them and they are the only reason it is now with Sky.. They should have either got behind it or stopped it rather than go for this pointless half measure. At least that way another free channel like C4 could've picked it up. Would've been better than Sky.

I already have Sky sports so will watch it live. Depending on the BBC's standard of coverage next year (and I'm expecting a much more watered down approach) I will hopefully only have to watch half of them on Sky. I hate Sky but really have little choice as everything I watch (pretty much bar Top Gear and F1!) is on Sky or channels Sky allow me access too!

[John S]

I have to admit I do find it funny that Bernie is taking the blame, he will just take the money of whoever. the BBC are fully to blame for this, they approached Sky and worked with them and they are the only reason it is now with Sky.. They should have either got behind it or stopped it rather than go for this pointless half measure. At least that way another free channel like C4 could've picked it up. Would've been better than Sky.

I wholeheartedly agree the BBC have caused this incredubly stupid half only situation. Why couldn't they just see out their contract and then let open competition from other terrestrial broadcasters take place for the coverage. If it then had to go only on Sky so be it, it would be no worse for us real fans than what they have left us with.

The BBC should be asking Sky for a cut from the proceeds for the inevitable new subscribers Sky will get. I don't pay my licence fee to have the BBC then force me to pay more for coverage of the sport I love, whilst still using licence fees to underwrite the deal until 2018. 

[Alianora La Canta]

I was just reading this: -
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2011/08/03/skys-deal-damage-f1s-popularity-uk/
and this guy is saying that it is going to cost £61 per race? So what is the monthly cost of have Sky Sports in the UK here in NZ I pay $85 per month which is about £42 per month.

The calculated amount has since gone down... ...to £60 per race. There are some assumptions though:

- You don't have Sky of any description yet

- You don't care about anything on Sky except the F1 (either because you already have alternative means of access or because Sky simply doesn't broadcast your taste in TV programming other than F1)

- You therefore have to buy the basic package as well as Sky Sports

- You want Sky Sports 1 and 2 (otherwise you are in danger of not seeing some races due to clashing football, cricket or other things)

- You want to watch in HD (currently SD and HD are both free in the UK through BBC, but SD is somewhat cheaper than HD on Sky... ...it's only £47.60 per race)

- As a new subscriber, you are stuck with the 12-month minimum contract length

[Andy B]

I still do not know how you come up with £60 per race?
£60 per month I may believe although I cannot recall paying that when I was in the UK. My nephew reconed £32 per month?
So I'm still confused!!

I finally found the time to search Sky UK and currently I could get Sky+ HD with Sky Sports for £50 per month.
I agree its a lot of money but less than the £60 per race that has been quoted on here.
It will be interesting to see what Sky are going to offer to attract new and existing F1 fans and I'm sure they will come up with something.
I can see and hope that MB and DC are on their line up I still hope that it will improve what I already have here in NZ.