11 replies to this topic

[F1Ohio]

As a newbie (since 1999), I got to wondering recently about the history of F1 broadcasting in the US. I know that before SPEED, the races were carried on one of the ESPNs. I also recall seeing the Monaco GP on ABC's Wide World of Sports back in the 70s. Can any longterm US fans fill in the details? What was the first year the entire season was broadcast? What was it like before that?

[Dennis Hockenbury]

ESPN started live F1 coverage in the U.S. in 1981 exclusively on cable systems. I'm not sure if ESPN broadcast all events beginning that year as I seem to recall that ABC still had the broadcast for Monaco even after ESPN started coverage.

[Rob G]

CBS had broadcast rights to the USGP(s) from at least the early 1980s through the last Detroit race IIRC.

[Ross Stonefeld]

98 and 99 it was 100% on SV with the races also shown on Fox Sports at other times. in 96 and 97 it was exclusively on ESPN/2 all seasn long

[F1Ohio]

1981...man, missed out on more than I thought I did.

Thanks, for the info guys. I happened upon a TV listing for the Monaco GP on Speedvision in 1999. Was curious and thought I'd check it out....been a fan ever since. I'm amazed I never came across it sooner. I guess the generally odd airtimes had something to do with it.

[Don Capps]

Originally posted by Dennis Hockenbury
ESPN started live F1 coverage in the U.S. in 1981 exclusively on cable systems. I'm not sure if ESPN broadcast all events beginning that year as I seem to recall that ABC still had the broadcast for Monaco even after ESPN started coverage.

As far as I can recall, Dennis is probably correct. ESPN did show some of the races in 1980 along with some of the NASCAR events. But, i think it is safe to say the 1981 was the first season that all the F1 races were shown, albeit through a combination of ESPN and ABC -- who held the US rights to Monaco forever.... And as mentioned, CBS had its hand in there as well.

As far as all the events being shown live....

[Dennis Hockenbury]

My source for the posted information as provided here is:

http://www.f1-grandprix.com/espn.html

"After broadcasting Formula One for nearly two decades, ESPN finally succumbed in 1998 to the thin U.S. ratings for the circus. Here is ESPN's statement after their F1 contract was revoked. While FoxSports was booted out by Speedvision just days before the 2001 season opened, after the latter negotiated exclusive rights to F1 in America, Fox has not been nearly as classy — pandering to the seemingly insatiable demand of Americans for NASCAR Winston Cup racing."

"Unfortunately neither ESPN nor ESPN2 will be televising Formula One racing this season. We sought to continue televising the entire F1 season live and are disappointed to lose our relationship with the sport. We had televised F1 since 1981 and brought tremendous exposure to the circuit. For further information, you should contact FOAL (Formula One Administration Limited) direct at 011-44-171-584-6668 or fax 011-44-171-589-0311. They do not have a US office."

[Ross Stonefeld]

Originally posted by F1Ohio
1981...man, missed out on more than I thought I did.

Thanks, for the info guys. I happened upon a TV listing for the Monaco GP on Speedvision in 1999. Was curious and thought I'd check it out....been a fan ever since. I'm amazed I never came across it sooner. I guess the generally odd airtimes had something to do with it.

Thats pretty much what did it for me too. Had never been much of a racing fan other than watching Daytona and Indy every year, and in 95 I got up a little earlier than normal to wait for the 500 to come on and was looking for any pre-Indy news and found Michael Schumacher's final laps en route to winning Monaco. My response, even at age 14, was along the lines of "woah, this is ****ing amazing!"

[mikedeering]

The first GP you watched was Monaco, and you still came back for more...? You must have a high bordem threshold!

Still, at least you weren't duped into watching F1 by having your first race as Europe 99 or something similar!

[JohnH]

While it wasn't my first race watching it was my first race to attend and it was very exciting, The European GP of 1999 at the Nurburgring....Although I ended up with seats on the front straight I saw lots of passing and action......I don't know what race you were watching at home, but the many lead changes, thanks to people going off, and the racing among the mid pack was outstanding, as was the changing conditions. The fact that a mid field team won it's first and only race also made it special. Sorry but you are wrong that race was great and I'm forever glad to have went. And somehow the tape didn't do it justice so maybe that's what you're onto. The only thing I regret is not seeing Schumacher drive in his home country...and now I don't know when I will ever be able to.

JH

[Jim Thurman]

If you go by ESPN, they'd probably tell you they televised the very first F1 race

After all, they created Auto Racing...or so they believe. One must truly research carefully when dealing with the egos in the television industry.

I would say 1981 also, however, I didn't get cable until May of 1982, so I don't know for certain. ESPN had a lot of CART races then, more than NASCAR, along with the occasional USAC Sprint/Midget (even Stock), a World of Outlaws race or two and whatever support races were held on weekends they were televising primary series (this meant Super Vee for CART, ARCA at Talladega and Western NASCAR Grand Americans from Riverside).

CBS televised most races from 1976 through 1980, but I was busy with other pursuits then, so didn't catch many. These were often tape delayed and edited, but nevertheless, more of the season than had ever been seen before (which prior to that time usually consisted of a couple of events in truncated coverage on ABC's "Wide World of Sports").

In addition to the annual Monaco coverage, I do remember the '73 British GP being on WWoS.

ESPN lost the F1 contract after being outbid by Fox Sports. In an unbelievably inconsiderate move, after heavily advertising the first race from Australia (even though they obviously only assumed they had the rights), they said not word one when it switched. Many F1 fans were caught out by this late switch and ESPN's lack of mention. I know they didn't want to promote something on their arch-rival network, but common courtesy should have had them at least mention that they weren't going to be televising the race. They didn't even do that.

Same thing when they were outbid by Fox and NBC for the NASCAR contract. How could NASCAR betray them they bellowed?. After all ESPN made NASCAR. When Fox exercised a clause that forced ESPN crews out of pit area on race weekends, ESPN behaved like a complete crybaby...conveniently forgetting that they had done exactly the same thing to TNN broadcasters a few years earlier!

So, when ESPN whined and cried (which was constant), my response was "boo-hoo, what comes around goes around"

Sorry, their attitude bothers me...


Jim Thurman

[Bob21]

I'm not old but I remember... in addition to the above, ABC on one week delay carrying the Mexican GP in 1964, CBS (on its weekly sports show) carrying the USGP at Watkins in 1966, CBS in 1977, 1978 and 1979 carrying the USGPs' at Long Beach and Watkins as well as in 1978 and 1979 the French GP (This was also the Villeneuve/Arnoux wheel banger). The hook was Mario's emergence as an F1 force. I also recall seeing on a cousins cable broadcast Alan Jones at the USGP at Watkins in 1980. And in 1982 on NBC an opportunity to see Alan Jones walk the USGP at Las Vegas while Carlos Reuterman choked and allowed Piquet to win his first championship. I still wonder why no one has done a Monaco compliation. With the Monaco broadcasts begining in 1961 it would be nice nice to see a shark nose in action even if only 10 minutes . Bob