Any news on NBC Sports plan for F1 coverage?

Does anyone have any information on NBC Sports's plans for F1 coverage? I know that Hobbs and Matchett will be on the broadcast team, but will the races be covered live?; will the commentators be at the tracks?; will practice and qualifying be covered?; will there be any programming complementary to the F1 season?; etc.

Thanks!

Jack

 

I was wondering this as well being that the start of the season is pretty close. The NBC sports web page is rather poor as well. For securing such a large contract one would think a little more effort would be put in place.

 

I know Hobbs and Matchet are back, so at least there's some continuity, I like them anyway.

 

Yes, you'd think some pre-season promotion would be appropriate. As weak as Speed's coverage was, I have even less confidence in Comcast/NBC. I am expecting to be disappointed.

 

Thanks for creating this thread. I had totally forgotten about Speed not carrying F1 anymore.

If any member have more information on what NBC plan on doing with its F1 coverage, please share it with the rest of us. I think this season will be an exciting one and I hope NBC will continue Speed's live coverage of the races instead of tape-delay.

 

Three of the four are making the transition to NBC Sports; Leigh Diffey will be replacing Bob Varsha. I recall reading somewhere that they will be covering practice, qualifying, and the race (obviously), but the article didn't go into much detail regarding which practice sessions (hopefully all of them) and whether or not they will be live or delayed. They will have a few races on regular NBC as well.

I'm hoping for the best, but expecting the worst... Unfortunately, F1 is treated as an afterthought in this country. Hopefully that will change, but NBC Sports will have to put in time and money in order to do so.

 

I was just searching for an NBC F1 homepage today myself and found nothing. Not a great way to start.

 

supposedly they will be covering all three practice sessions.

 

NBC could work out well and could work out lousy. It's too difficult to tell.

The reason it could work out well is that like the old Speedvision, it was the only thing it had on it's network. So, it plugged it like crazy and even re-ran the races later the night and in the middle or the week.

That stopped with Speed TV and Nascar crapola talk shows.

So, maybe as they have practically nothing else of importance, this might be the one thing they really go after.

Hope springs eternal.

 

I was doing the same internet searches today looking for any USA TV evidence of pre-season testing or F1 car launch parties. I guess not....

 

This reminds of when ESPN lost F1 coverage to Fox(?) back in 98(?). I just can't understand why a network would bother bidding for the television if they are 1) Not prepared to cover it completely 2) Does not seem to think that there are going to be enough viewing interest for them to make money on.

Like others have said, I am hoping for the best but unfortunatley, will have to expect the worst.

 

If you get NBC Sports Network on your cable/sat service, check them out on the programming guide. There's a lot of crap on there (talk shows, hunting, fishing, more talk shows, college basketball, more talk, ad nauseum). I expect F1 to be buried.

 

If NBC is smart they will air at least a few races throughout the season on regular NBC.

I was just wondering about this same topic. I think it would be good to have some sort of prelude show before the season starts.

 

+1

I'm sure they will - Steve & the boys are probably already working on it. I suspect it'll be pretty dumbed down, but they've gotta start somewhere.

As for the naysayers; Why not at least give 'em a chance? The talking head crew is at least "OK" and they claim they'll air all three FP's, so at least that's progress.

Having said that, I've gotta get my Sky feed working again this season.

Cheers.
Ian

 

They will. I believe I read that NBC will televise the Canadian Grand Prix and the last three races, with all the others on NBS Sports Network. I also read somewhere that the races will be streamed on NBS Sports Live Extra.

 

This implies that the broadcasts will not be live. This would not surprise me at all. The mentality at Comcast/NBC Universal will be, "Hey! Whose gonna be up at 3 AM to watch some foreign guys drive race cars? Let's do a repeat of a Costas talk show and record the race to show later.....edited to fit the 2 hour slot, of course."

 

I know from sources intimate with the new F-1 NBC program they will be taping in NYC on March 20 - 25 so I know they will be covering practice and quali.. and race.

 

I don't believe so. IIRC, they've already said they will air all sessions live.

I remain a little disappointed that they won't have anyone on-site like most other major broadcasters, but apparently that's mega $ to the Pygmy.

They obviously outbid Speed ($25 versus $20 maybe? ) so are hopefully going to at least try for a while.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Two dollar fifty and a drink chit.

 

Yes, but "covering" live or on tape? Perhaps your sources could supply some details.

 

I don't know that Speed bid on F1 at all. I've never seen any confirmation that any networks other than NBC bid on it.

 

Found this on the NBC sports website:

"In October, it was announced that NBC Sports Group will televise all F1 races, as well as qualifying, practice sessions, studio shows and re-airs that amount to more than 100 hours of programming annually. NBC Sports Live Extra, available online at NBCSports.com, as well as on mobile and tablet apps, will serve as the Formula One live-stream platform"

I'd like to believe that means all races, live, and ALL qualifying and practice, but who knows?

 

Underwhelming. "More than 100 hours of programming annually" = about five hours/race. Big whoop.

"NBC Sports Live Extra, available online....will serve as the Formula One live-stream platform" means to me live on line, but not on TV.

This is starting to sound like it's going to suck. I would be delighted to be wrong, but nothing I've seen indicates a commitment to full live TV coverage of F1 by Comcast/NBC.

 

"big whoop?"
This is the United States. Five Hours per race is the canteen of water we get issued in this desert.

I'm not underwhelmed by water when I am extremely thirsty and dehydrated.

 

In other words, about 2 hours more than we're used to receiving.

I'm pretty sure you're mistaken; Can't find the story now, but I'm 95% sure they said they'd air all sessions live. The "online" stuff is to let us know they're in the 21st century, not their main platform.

Further, 2 x 90 minute FP's + FP3 & qualy + race = ~7 hours. 7 x 19 races is about 120 hours, so in line with "over a hundred hours", albeit without any pre/post race shows.

I too would love 'em to make a big commitment - Reporters in the pitlane, an almost dedicated channel like Sky, a killer tablet app and so on. At least they're carrying it.

Let's at least give 'em a chance!

Cheers,
Ian