The day fans knew had been in the pipelines for some time, yet wished it wouldn’t arrive, has been realised, with news that Formula One will be broadcast exclusively on pay-television in the United Kingdom from 2019.
Incumbent pay broadcaster Sky Sports, which shares the rights in conjunction with free-to-air station, Channel 4 following four seasons in tandem with BBC, will assume autonomous coverage once the current agreement concludes in 2018.
Though several European nations have already transitioned to an exclusive pay-TV model – including Denmark, France and Spain (excluding the eponymous Grand Prix), the significance of this announcement far exceeds those aforementioned.
Dismissing the price tag which is estimated at near £1 billion, the reality is that British viewers – the primary lodestone globally for eyes on screens – will be marginalised prior to the turn of the decade, unless they’re willing to stump up a pretty penny.
The ‘consolation’ prize, that the British Grand Prix and two other events must be screened live on free-to-air, with the balance restricted to highlights status, represents scant recompense for followers accustomed to complete, and at the least, an even split of highlights and full race, coverage dating back to the 1970s.
New free-to-air broadcaster, Channel 4, is yet to screen a live race, though its tenure has already been capped at three seasons, with the aforementioned highlights the extent that it can aspire for beyond this date. Hardly incentive to throw its resources behind the production in any capacity, much less the once fanciful, now delusional notion that the sport could have once more found itself in the exclusive domain of free-to-air upon the conclusion of the current contract.
Australians have already been exposed to the split model, which took effect on the eve of the 2015 season, leaving half of the calendar on free-to-air and the rest exclusive to Foxtel – as has been the case in the United Kingdom since 2012, following three decades of coverage shared between Channels Nine and Ten.
If last week’s bombshell is any indicator, this model’s days are already numbered, thus it isn’t unreasonable to fear that Australia will once again follow the curve. Ten’s contract, due to expire in 2019, could easily be concluded a season early to fall into line with the United Kingdom.
Considering that the network has opted for the ‘alternative’ commentary feed – BBC in 2015, and now Channel 4, locals could be faced with exclusive Foxtel coverage once Sky – whose coverage is essentially simulcast in its entirety, assumes sole custodianship. Though the Australian Grand Prix, in recent years serving foremost as a cross promotional tool for Ten’s upcoming content, might retain a free-to-air presence if we’re lucky.
So long as Bernie Ecclestone and CVC remain at the helm – notwithstanding recent reports that a figure has been reached for a long-touted sale, their remit is to make money above all other considerations, and the fans are those who are going to pay the price until such an event occurs.
It could be said that viewers shouldn’t be so lucky on account of the adequate coverage which had been available until last season, while for those so fortunate to be in a position to enjoy the comprehensive Foxtel offering subsequent to this time, there is nothing to complain about.
It all boils down to whether fans are willing to pay for something which had for so long been free.
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