7 replies to this topic

[TheUltimateWorrier]

Like many others out there, I'm often quite puzzled that Formula 1 (FOM - whatever it is) doesn't embrace the power of the internet.  Would anybody here be interested in an online streaming service (PC, PlayStation 3&4, Xbox 360&One, iPad etc.) to watch classic races for a small subscription fee?

 

Last month, WWE released the WWE Network which allows you to stream and watch most PPVs from yesterday and also PPVs in the future for $10 a month.  It just often surprises me that nobody at FOM/FIA whatever hasn't said "hey, we've got all these old races lying around making no money. Why don't we start something like Netflix where users can pay £5/6 a month and watch any and as many classic races as they want?"  

 

Are FOM just sitting on this content on top of zimma frames with their champagne flutes and gramophones? Or are there licensing constraints that limit what they can do with the content?

 

I'm genuinely interested to hear if anyone knows if there are restrictions on classic F1 footage.  Like I say, I find it strange that even Vince 'who are these young ragamuffins AC/DC?' McMahon can see the value of the internet and FOM can't/don't want to.

[turssi]

I'd guess it's a licensing issue. They sold all the rights with big money country-by-country and did not require any internet exposure, just the promise that they'll police any content that leaks online.

[Dolph]

FOM owns the images and video streams. What they do not own is the commentary provided in each country.

[Andrew Hope]

Those old bastards in charge of things like this rarely grasp the capability of the internet. People born in the 1930s shouldn't be in charge of anything.

 

Since it will take ages to pry the rights for old races away, what we need to do is get a bunch of fans together and reenact great moments of racing history. We could get all liquored up and act out infamous moments like Piquet vs. Salazar, Brambilla spinning after taking the victory in Austria, and so on. Maybe using Hot Wheels to show some of the finer details. We can provide insightful, slurred commentary over it all and make a new video every couple of weeks.

 

Then we chuck it all on Youtube and make mad scrilla through ads and hilarious product placement, and 40 years from now when FOM pulls their head out of their ass we can all enjoy having more views of drunk people reenacting great F1 moments than views for the actual highlights.

Edited by Andrew Hope, 15 March 2014 - 19:53.

[HaydenFan]

Those old bastards in charge of things like this rarely grasp the capability of the internet. People born in the 1930s shouldn't be in charge of anything.

 

Since it will take ages to pry the rights for old races away, what we need to do is get a bunch of fans together and reenact great moments of racing history. We could get all liquored up and act out infamous moments like Piquet vs. Salazar, Brambilla spinning after taking the victory in Austria, and so on. Maybe using Hot Wheels to show some of the finer details. We can provide insightful, slurred commentary over it all and make a new video every couple of weeks.

 

Then we chuck it all on Youtube and make mad scrilla through ads and hilarious product placement, and 40 years from now when FOM pulls their head out of their ass we can all enjoy having more views of drunk people reenacting great F1 moments than views for the actual highlights.

 

Crap! Didn't know someone was watching me last night. Had it with my best Murray Walker voice ("Senna takes Prost in turn one at Suzuka!")... oh, how embarrassing. 

[Fastcake]

FOM owns the images and video streams. What they do not own is the commentary provided in each country.

 

That would be fairly trivial to arrange, as they could just give the BBC a discount in return for the commentary rights.

 

The issue is simply a case of making more money from selling exclusive rights to broadcasters than they would from operating their own streaming services. As much as people may proclaim the death of TV, the internet only comprises a tiny percentage of viewing, and until that changes FOM will continue to go where the money is. F1 is hardly the only sport in the same boat - try finding somewhere to watch Football if you don't have Sky.

[TheUltimateWorrier]

That would be fairly trivial to arrange, as they could just give the BBC a discount in return for the commentary rights.

 

The issue is simply a case of making more money from selling exclusive rights to broadcasters than they would from operating their own streaming services. As much as people may proclaim the death of TV, the internet only comprises a tiny percentage of viewing, and until that changes FOM will continue to go where the money is. 

 

Ahh, exclusive rights, I see. Sort of like the reason WWE Network is only in USA at moment.  Even then, Sky F1 don't show anything during the week when a race isn't on, when you think they'd want to show as much classic races if they have that content in their resources.  Sad thing is it needn't be this us vs them/death of TV argument, it's more about embracing the potential of streaming particularly with the younger generation.  So many old races I'd like to see, but looks like I'll have to heed Andrew's advice 

 

 

 

F1 is hardly the only sport in the same boat - try finding somewhere to watch Football if you don't have Sky.

 

I'll be watching the World Cup on ITV on my TV and BBC on my laptop through iPlayer this summer   .  I get what you mean about Prem football though.

[Atreiu]

If you mean something similar to what MotoGP offers, I'd defintely purchase it.