The Sky One replay looked very sloppy with this new ad-break policy as you had two break bumpers stuck together - what I presume was the original on the live coverage and one that gets stuck on for the Sky One re-run. That's had ads since it started, so it isn't new there, but I suspect the Sky One rerun isn't particularly high priority.
But the difference with ITV is, the fact viewers are paying the subscription for the product.
That’s the crucial factor - people (myself included) are paying significant amounts of money to see the coverage. As frustrating as that was on ITV at least it could be understood.
Rather than the gaps between qualifying being ‘filler, for those who are interested they’ll appreciate the analysis and driver interviews.
Perhaps it should be expected given right from the start they’ve taken ad breaks during practice sessions when there is actually action on the track.
Sky would not dare put ads during a race - not unless they wanted every window at Sky HQ smashed by disgruntled F1 fans.
I actually didn't notice the ads during the two Quali session breaks yesterday. I think there were only 2 30" adverts in each break, so still 3 minutes to pad between Q1 and Q2 and well over 5 minutes between Q2 and Q3.
But the difference with ITV is, the fact viewers are paying the subscription for the product.
That’s the crucial factor - people (myself included) are paying significant amounts of money to see the coverage. As frustrating as that was on ITV at least it could be understood.
Rather than the gaps between qualifying being ‘filler, for those who are interested they’ll appreciate the analysis and driver interviews.
Perhaps it should be expected given right from the start they’ve taken ad breaks during practice sessions when there is actually action on the track.
Sky would not dare put ads during a race - not unless they wanted every window at Sky HQ smashed by disgruntled F1 fans..
What alternative do they have? They're clearly testing the water
The windows at ITV clearly survived eleven years of adverts. Of course, as has already been pointed out, you expect adverts on ITV as its their only form of revenue. Sky has subs.
Something else that’s come to my attention. Sky apparently are undertaking a programme of moving anyone on legacy basic packages to their current Sky Signature packages. As part of this anyone with a remaining legacy entitlement to Sky Sports F1 as a basic tier channel is having that entitlement removed. That may be the law of unintended consequences but I wonder if it will have further impact on the viewing numbers.
Sky need to be careful. It's no good running the new Sky Sports ad strapline 'It's Only Live Once' if you are going to miss upto 5 minutes of every race due to being sold something you don't want or need.
It's Only Live Once, We Are Back From A Break - doesn't sound so appealing.
It might still be 3 years away, but the rights do come up for renewal at the end of 2024, and they have renewed early with FOM in the past.
But FOM are pushing their own F1 TV in a big way, and the UK/IRE is one of the remaining major markets where the full whistles and bells OTT service isn't available - due to the current rights deal with Sky.
If the season subscription for F1TV is less than for Sky Sports (with F1 included) and F1TV is live race advert free, then you can see what'll happen with the F1 fans, if Sky try and insert adverts during the races, after being ad free since 2012.
Just a note - they do run ad breaks in the full race reruns/repeats. That's probably the trade off. Run the race live ad free, and put them in the race repeats.
I don’t think there is any chance of Sky inserting ads into the racing, to be honest. The same way there isn’t going to be any ads during Premier League football.
I also think the full F1TV service is not going to happen, whilst a premium broadcaster in the UK is going to be involved.
Sky have added in advert breaks between qualifying sessions which isn’t going down too well on Twitter.
People have short memories.
It wasn’t that long ago ITV used to take ad breaks during the race
. It was always interesting trying to determine what happened during the 5 minute breaks throughout the race.
The time between qualifying sessions was generally filler anyway so I don’t think the addition of ad breaks detracts at all from the coverage.
Where are they doing the highlights of the Figure Skating from? It's yet another BBC Sport studio - you'd expect something like this to be done in the small 2nd sports studio but it looks like it is in a massive VR studio (not the usual BBC Sport one) with a view over Salford (or maybe Stockholm), two massive screens and the BBC Sport logo dug into the floor. Wonder if they're testing if ahead of the Euros and Olympics?
Where are they doing the highlights of the Figure Skating from? It's yet another BBC Sport studio - you'd expect something like this to be done in the small 2nd sports studio but it looks like it is in a massive VR studio (not the usual BBC Sport one) with a view over Salford (or maybe Stockholm), two massive screens and the BBC Sport logo dug into the floor.
Looks like their regular studio that they use for MOTD etc in terms of layout but looks like a new VR studio they are going to be using.
We may look a bit rough now but @KDownesBBC and I will be ready in the brand new @BBCSport virtual studio at 4:30 today for the @ISU_Figure world champs highlights programme. Don’t worry, I’ll have clothes on! pic.twitter.com/hZc9JouoSg