11 replies to this topic

[August]

As always, discussion here is very F1-centric, also when it comes to viewing figures. But I'm interested about how are the viewing figures developing in other series and how F1 is doing in comparision to other series.

 

I found this from 2010 saying F1 has 600M viewers per race whereas MotoGP has 300M.

 

http://motomatters.c...ros_a_year.html

 

Then again, I found this saying F1 had 450M viewers in 2013, 50M less than in 2012.

 

http://en.espnf1.com...ory/144365.html

 

So, has F1's viewing figures really gone down by 150M in few years?

 

And how have MotoGP's viewing figures developed during last few years? At least I could read they are in decline in the UK because it went to PPV.

 

I guess PPV is hurting all series viewing figures but is there any big series with constant or rising viewing figures?

[MortenF1]

Isn't V8 Supercars catching on around the world? 

I've been reading about a decline in viewing figures for F1 but heard the other day it's rather a stand still.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Sorry but MotoGP doesn't get 300m a race, nor does F1 get 600m. It's about 1/10th that in each case.

[PokePoke]

Since 2009-2010 all form of motorsport have problem with decline in viewing figures. Rally, GT, Touring cars, stock cars, single seaters, motorbikes, motocross etc. GT racing, rally are almost dead in minstream media (tv,radio,even internet), NASCAR and Moto GP are not able to sold out tickects for their  bigest events (look at Mugello, Montmelo or TMS, Charlotte, Bristol), sponsors flocking to football, amer. football or strait to social media. Indycars, GP2, WEC, SBk (beside BSB, Le Mans 24h) have global figures ~1-3 mln viewers at their bigest events.

 

Yes in UK BTCC, BSB are popular, but nowhere comparing to other sports.

 

Beside F1 other series like Moto GP, SBK, NASCAR, Indycars, also went to cable/satelite PPV channels because commercial rights holders want revenue, beacuse big FTA network didn't wat pay hunders milions for licence (because internet slowly kills tv rating, and broadcasters cuts costs). And when those championships went PPV, many sponsors (those, who hasn't fled ealier) cuts their budget for motorsports.

 

But beside that, the bigest problem for motorsports  is the lack of interest of the younger generation, which is more interested in social media, or consumer electronic than spending time on the track or in front of the tv watching racing/rallying. Even other sports (like basketball, fighting sports, atletics, most of winter sports etc) face this problem.

[Fastcake]

I don't have any figures at hand, but I believe the BTCC's audience has increased over the past few years. There's certainly larger crowds at the circuits nowadays - Thruxton this year had a record number of spectators - which does imply more TV viewers.

 

Of course, it's likely not a patch on the super touring era.

[Ross Stonefeld]

No, but you aren't spending millions anymore either. So it's a nicely balanced little series.

[F1matt]

BTCC is definitely on the up at the circuits, never had to queue that long to get into Croft since the super touring heyday, this has to have a knock on effect.

An interesting comparison would be to look at all sports that enjoy big TV coverage, Grand Slam Tennis, Major Golf tournaments, Football etc and see how there figures have coped in the last five years and not just Motorsport.

[Fastcake]

No, but you aren't spending millions anymore either. So it's a nicely balanced little series.

 

Indeed, those years may of been great but they were completely unsustainable. Having the series healthy with a decent following is better than burning out after a few years of glory.

 

I would imagine now MotoGP has moved to BT Sport, it's the second biggest motorsport series in the UK. That says a lot about the current state of motorsport.

[Risil]

BSB has pretty healthy spectator numbers. I've heard 40-50,000 on some of the Bank Holiday events.

Edited by Risil, 20 July 2014 - 20:08.

[ebc]

There is so much competition in sport now, I suspect all sports are down in terms of viewing figures.  Motorsport would still be No.2 after football, others like Tennis, Golf etc are only getting big audiences for the major tournaments.

 

If you consider NASCAR, F1, MotoGP, V8 etc there are a lot of top series that pull in big TV figures and spectators, over 8 or 9 months of the year.  Aside from football no other sport can match that.

 

The North West 200 in Northern Ireland had 150,000 spectators this year and Le Mans had a record attendance of 263,000 and there is not many if any sports that can attract such numbers all over the world.  

[ExFlagMan]

Probably not feasible to compare todays BTCC track attendance with the days of the manufacturer led Super Touring cars, given that they handed out free tickets locally from filling stations, car dealerships etc. back in those days.

[F1matt]

There is so much competition in sport now, I suspect all sports are down in terms of viewing figures. Motorsport would still be No.2 after football, others like Tennis, Golf etc are only getting big audiences for the major tournaments.



Not so, check out the viewing figures for the World Cup, some very impressive figures, not just in the "new" football countries but also in the traditional ones such as Italy and England.