Bratches defends F1 internet-pay TV plans
Jan.23 - Sean Bratches has defended Liberty Media's plans to ramp up internet coverage of F1 while moving the sport away from free-to-air television.
Fans have noticed recently that the trend is for new television deals with pay-TV networks, with only a limited number of races shown free-to-air.
Bratches, the new F1 commercial chief, said Liberty is also focused on the digital future.
"The relaunch of our digital platform is planned," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
"Today it only costs us money. Fans cannot download exclusive content.
"That's going to change," Bratches explained. "We will introduce a direct streaming offer to the fans for both live content and non-live content. The fans will then get access to data directly from the cars.
"One will be freely available, while the other for serious fans is behind a payment barrier."
Previously, ousted F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone did not develop the sport's internet presence, arguing that television rights must remain exclusive.
But Bratches claims: "The market has proven that both can be done simultaneously. Other sports are already much further ahead.
"It's not like we're leaving our TV partners behind. This year, we will be offering a new TV graphics platform that presents content in a much more consumer friendly way," he said.
As for the highly controversial move away from free-to-air TV coverage, he explained: "Free TV means reach, but the money is on pay TV.
"Ideally, 25 to 30 per cent of the races should be on free TV and the rest behind a pay wall. It works in France and other countries, but there are countries where we should not move to this model yet," Bratches said.
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I have followed F1 for many years.
As soon as it goes onto pay TV only (which a lot of fans in the real world like me just Can't afford )
I for one will cease to follow it completely.
It is obvious Liberty is another company that just Doesn't really care for the sport, just their profit margins.
You're about to have some of the ugliest race cars on the planet, and you want me to pay to watch them?
what the hell are liberty playing at ,i watched f1 for over 25 years because the cost of goin to races is expensive , they want people to see the races and build for fans so why on earth they want us to pay to watch a full or part season , i will leave watchin f1 NOT PAYING the pay per view come on liberty you want fans,dont push us away from the sport we love
I relish the idea of pay per view so I only pay for what I want to watch, providing the cost is reasonable.
In the USA F1 is already struggling to catch attention. The US GP is at some characterless cookie cutter track in Texas, literally a hot bed of Zero F1 fans. Going to pay per view online viewing should cement F1's demise in a market of 1/3 of a billion people...... Good job Bernie. Everyone will blame Liberty Media, ironically a bunch of Yanks.
i'm poor. all i have is f1.charging to view will destroy f1.paying to see flying billboards is not my idea of sport.i'll miss it and no longer support the advertisers.
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