An Apple for F1?

[Andy B]

It is reported that Apple TV are to make a bid for the broadcasting rights for F1.
https://www.planetf1.com/news/apple-tv-deal-could-shake-up-f1-broadcasting-landscape
I'm unsure if this is a good or bad thing and only time will tell.
As Apple are the national broadcaster for the American Football series maybe you guys can throw some light on how that is working out?

[lkjohnson1950]

Never heard of Apple being anything official for the NFL. Football appears on NBC, CBS, ESPN, FOX, and Prime. Plus the NFL has their own streaming service available through several streamers. F1 going to Apple might get Liberty a bigger check, but would surely reduce the audience. It would mean I could no longer watch, because I'm not buying another service. Every time I subscribe to a streamer, they raise the price within months.

[Dare]

It's not football as we know it's American Major League Soccer. remember soccer is called football around the world


If Apple get's F1 forget any free F1 in the US. At least we did
get a few free races this year. I have ESPN+ and it's no qualifying
and little coverage after the race. I'll probably get F1TV for the rest the season

[cosworth151]

Just further proof that Liberty is just there to drain every last cent out of F1.

[lkjohnson1950]

Don't know about Soccer either. CBS/Paramount has Champions League and NWSL plus others. NBC/Peacock has Premier League. So even if Apple has MLS, there is still a lot of soccer on streaming. Apple is a very closed system. If F1 goes to them you won't get F1TV or any other coverage.

[cosworth151]

Back to the days when we'd all meet up in the chat room for info on bootleg feeds

[lkjohnson1950]

WooHoo! 

[Jericoke]

I haven't watched any MLS Soccer/Football on Apple, but I have watched some Major League Baseball.

They're willing to rebuild the broadcast from the ground up, not just do what was done before because it was done before. 

I happened to read a recent puff piece about Apple's approach to MLS.  The guy running Apple TV is a sports fan, so is very invested in creating the 'best possible viewing experience'.  They do listen to criticism and adjust coverage to address it.

I wouldn't inherently worry about AppleTV 'ruining' the sport.  But having prime placement on a large streaming service worked with Drive to Survive.

[Alianora La Canta]

Apple getting the rights would mean most people I know would not be able to watch F1, unless it delegated some of the rights to a non-streaming platform.

[Jericoke]

Apple getting the rights would mean most people I know would not be able to watch F1, unless it delegated some of the rights to a non-streaming platform.

Can I ask what would prevent people from accessing AppleTV?

My only options for watching F1, legally or illegally, have easy access to AppleTV

[Andy B]

Apple getting the rights would mean most people I know would not be able to watch F1, unless it delegated some of the rights to a non-streaming platform.

Can I ask what would prevent people from accessing AppleTV?

My only options for watching F1, legally or illegally, have easy access to AppleTV

Only if they didn't pay!

[Jericoke]

Apple getting the rights would mean most people I know would not be able to watch F1, unless it delegated some of the rights to a non-streaming platform.

Can I ask what would prevent people from accessing AppleTV?

My only options for watching F1, legally or illegally, have easy access to AppleTV

Only if they didn't pay!

Are there any regions where F1 is available for free (legally)?

[cosworth151]

Here in the States a few of the races are broadcast free-on-air over the ABC network.

[rmassart]

Are there any regions where F1 is available for free (legally)?

Some European countries have some races on free TV. eg in the UK I think by law the British GP must be available on free to air TV (currently on Channel 4).  I think also in Belgium and Austria some races might well be on free TV.

And I am pretty sure the whole season is on free TV in Luxembourg (you would need to understand Luxembourgish if you want to follow the commentary): https://play.rtl.lu/live

Not sure because despite living here I've never bothered to watch it on the local channels. But since my other options are gradually drying up, I might give it a go once the races become a bit less predictable!

Here's the broadcast info directly from F1:

https://www.formula1.com/en/toolbar/broadcast-information.html

Unfortunately they don't say which ones are free to watch!

[Willy]

I pay for F1TV as I don't get any free F1 on regular TV (which I don't watch anyway).
F1TV has decent coverage and commentators (David Coulthard) and they offer practice sessions, Quali and race coverage.
There are lots of other features you can access.
No commercials!!!!