Before i start can i say i love sky sports. I think the coverage they can do is outstanding & in f1 terms beyond wildest dreams of even 10yrs ago on itv
Im really worried for F1 & that we are going the same way as English cricket Look at the current ashes. We just lost 4-0 & barely anyone watched as it was on bt sport getting viewers between 70,000 - 140,000 viewers compared to 2013/14 tour on sky that would 150 - 260 thousand. i say biggest proof that publicity is worth more than any money
2005 - Channel 4 - England win, flintoff wins sports personality of the year (media career off that) front page news, peak of 8.1m, open top bus through London & loads of mbe's
2013 - Sky sports - england win, Joe Root man of the series, didnt make spoty shortlist & they got 2 pages in sports newspaper.
Im sure BBC are getting right to world snooker & Wimbledon 'cheap'. Barry hearn could take world champs to Sheffield arena from crucible & BBC > sky sports/eurosport an triple or quadruple their profits. But if no one sees it did it really happen. We are lucky that we currently have (according to records) the greatest British f1 driver with 4 world titles. Which helps bring interest but what happens when for arguments sake in 2021 he stops & theres no driver capable of winning. Talking about Lewis Hamilton, why was the such a fuss over him the back end of 06. Because GP2 was on itv4, so vast majority of people was watching the turkey race where he came through the field from last to 2nd
Ive always been of the thought that all 20 races free to air & if you want the pay tv money they can have all the practises, qualifying longer pre post race build up & feeder series exclusive. But like bernie said in 70s when he was trying to get coverage & they only wanted the prestige gps & he persuaded them to have whole season we need the exposure