V8 Supercars entered into its new-look television landscape last weekend at the season-opening Clipsal 500 Adelaide. And the results in terms of viewers were to be expected.
The live coverage of Sunday’s race on both Fox Sports and Network Ten delivered an average audience of 933,395, solid numbers across the weekend on the pay television and free-to-air networks. But when compared to last season’s coverage on Channel Seven, the numbers were down.
This was to be expected, as the coverage moved across from the highest rating network to the third on free-to-air, in addition to a pay-television network with a much smaller base of viewers. And the true test will be how the delayed coverage of the majority of the championship rates on Ten.
But though the total amount of viewers was down and is unlikely to match Seven’s numbers, the total amount of coverage is unprecedented and will result in more engaged and regular viewers.
V8 Supercars was well down Seven’s priority list, and the constant swapping between 7Mate and the main channel in addition to inconsistent timeslots, regular ads during races, condensed qualifying coverage and very little promotion hurt the series’ traction.
Now, V8 Supercars’ Fox Sports coverage has everything the series and its diehard fans wanted: live coverage of all sessions in high-definition, races uninterrupted by commercials, extensive support category coverage, regular repeats and studio-based programming away from race weekends.
And though Ten’s coverage is a mix of live and delayed coverage, the latter will be across both the main and ONE in consistent afternoon and evening timeslots.
Diehard fans will be engaged like never before. And the breadth of coverage gives the series it’s best chance yet to expand its fan-base, with more potential for sports fans with Fox Sports to follow the series and keep tuning in.
V8 Supercars needs such depth in its coverage. It can be complicated to follow for the ball-sport brigade unaccustomed to motorsport, so Fox Sports’ extensive coverage will prove educational for many.
If Ten’s delayed coverage of the non-marquee events can rate adequately and appease fans without Fox Sports, then the new-look coverage should be deemed a success; remembering the financial gain for the series and teams is a much-needed increase from the previous television deal.
On the coverage itself, it will take same time for the new-look commentary line-up and hosting teams to gel. And while there are talented line-ups on both Fox Sports and Ten, fans have been overwhelming in their feedback that former racer and team owner Mark Larkham needs a bigger role.
Larkham became a fan favourite as the technical expert and roving pitlane reporter on Seven, thanks to his great enthusiasm and ability to explain detailed technical matters to non-revheads. And, surprisingly, he missed out on the same role with V8 Supercars TV, the commentary team that goes out across Fox Sports and Ten.
Larkham is part of the Ten hosting team and will help the secondary broadcaster’s coverage appeal to fans. But Larkham needs to return to the pitlane on a more permanent basis.
Fiona Holman
Guest
V8s should be allowed to be enjoyed by everyone. Not just for the privileged few who can afford $50 a month. Give the race back to channel 7 l will put up with the adds.
Jason Egan
Guest
Watched Speedweek yesterday. SBS are way better than the crap ten highlight package.
julain
Guest
How much of a kick back do you get from foxtel to Screw us out of the v8 and f1whats that bull shit you fed us at the beginning of the year with all your ads about all the action live now we have to pay for the privilege to watch free to air intanatioal events f**Ken media you just won't to control what we get to watch bottom line it's all about MONEY I hope you and every one who benefits from your profits choke on every last cent Sencily a very pissed of fan of motor sports
Jason Egan
Guest
Have to agree that I'm a lost viewer as I don't have Foxtel as I already have a competitor product one contract so watching the delayed highlights is crap. I've got access to other motor sport through my competitor product and it's way way better coverage I miss the channel 7 coverage Will Bathurst be the same as that will kill the V8s
Michael
Guest
Well V8 Supercars, they say you only get what you pay for! And the majority of fans do not have Fox channels. I have been a huge fan of Australian motor racing for over 50 years. To be treated to restricted viewing highlights, at night, is deplorable. Here is one fan, with an extended family of 15 motorheads, who will NOT be supporting V8 Supercars ever again. Channel 7 had the telecast down perfect, what we are being served now is downright disgusting. SHAME on you for treating adoring fans with distain.
Brenden
Guest
Totally Agree with you
Brenden
Guest
V8s on Channel 10 is turning in to a complete Disaster they promised so much more than Channel 7 but truth is they have behaved like most politicians promise much and deliver little, this will cause the whole V8 Supercars to be dead in a couple years as it has now lost the majority of its fan base, as the deal with Fox-sports and 10 has removed the ability of viewers to watch with means Car Sponsors will not be getting value for the huge dollar commitment they make to the sport and soon will drop their sponsorship leaving teams with put the money to continue on in the sport. Soon there will be fewer teams and there will also a much smaller fan base and slowly the death of the whole sport.
Ken Fazakerley
Guest
I think the deal V8 Supercars have done with fox sports stinks. I have followed the touring cars, the V8 and now i get 1 hour of coverage on free tv. This means i have to sign up with fox to get my full coverage. $50.00 per month to get my V8 kick. I dont get a say! Yes i do, you have lost me. V8 supercars will be taken over by another clas with 5 years because they do not consider their core followers.
smokey
Guest
Just read the previous comments and agree totally. What an absolute crock 10 doesn't broadcast live every v8 race. But only airs late night highlights. Give the 8's back to 7 at least they provided free to air coverage
Duncan Hindle
Guest
I must say that i think it is totally unacceptable that now channel 10 has the broadcast rights to the V8 Supercar championships that us folk out here in the real world that can't afford to be paying for FOXTEL have to miss out on watching the sport we love to watch because they feel that they can get away with playing it as just HIGHTLIGHTS late at night. The number of people that i know who feel the same way as I do is just not right and CHANNEL 10 should be ashamed of the fact that hard working Aussies who love watching the V8's can't do so unless we pay for FOXTEL or stay up late to watch a shortened version or what Channel 7 used to give us LIVE AND FREE TO AIR! It seems to me that you guy's in management at the Ten Network need to get over yourselves and show all upcoming races for the rest of the season or i am personally going to make it my mission to get as many signatures as i can and have you lot be forced to play our beloved V8's live and free to air. I work my arse off 5-6 days a week and when my V8's are on i just want to watch them live and not have to stay up late to see a bloody HIGHLIGHTS PACKAGE late at night! Please Channel 10 take time to think of us V8 fans and show all races at the time of the race not late at night. SHAME ON YOU! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
William Webb
Guest
The racing drivers are going to be on the dole que most of their fans are not going to pay to watch.
Scotty
Guest
I WAS, repeat WAS a V8SC fan, not now given the lack of coverage on 10. It is p poor, not to mention the lousy time slots. I will not subscribe to Foxtel on principle. At least 7 had most of the categories even though it was moved around, it was still available to watch. Sad, very sad, another example of stuffing up something for the average punter.
V8 fans missout
Guest
Well, with the new deal with the over priced Foxtel/Foxsport, and the lack of broadcasting on channel 10. The V8's will fail! The true fans have been left out, especially the fans that can NOT afford Fox, and taking into consideration, there are areas of Australia that do not have pay TV! The V8's should have been left of TFA TV, so all the fans can watch! The way it is now, the fans are losing and the sponsors are NOT receiving the the viewers needed, to account for the money spent on advertising, the sponsors are losing out too. Not happy with the Fox/Ten deal, as we have been left out!
Bob
Guest
Well the crap hit the fan over the weekend, check out V8 Supercars Facebook and Cannel 10 Facebook. V8 won't respond either will Channel 10. Sponsors are being inundated with complaints. No matter how good the fox coverage is the Brand of V8 Supercars is probably doomed after the 6 years fox has paid for. No-One is going to watch, hopefully nobody goes to the races. Greedy people that make a heck of a lot more money than me want even more. Well they got it and they will pay for it.