F1 urged to embrace modern media

[ArrowsFA1]

Formula 1 should be doing more to embrace the internet and new media platforms rather than trying to focus on protecting its more traditional media channels - which now includes television.
That was one of the clear messages from senior industry figures on the opening day of the Motor Sport Business Forum in Monaco on Wednesday
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80501

So what kind of things do you think F1 should be doing online?

[I am evil Homer]

Better official website that streams practice sessions and qualifying effectively

Twitter to fans globally

Links to video conferences/exclusive content - disseminated via Facebook and Twitter.

Whatever the FIA might think free content is avilable on the internet - better to control it, do it properly and maybe even get ad revenue from it.

[maximilian]

What I would love to see is a fan forum just like THIS one on the official site, with involvement from some of the insiders of the sport... and a better link to the fans that way (for example... what do fans think about this or that rule change, etc. - polls) and using that feedback to FOR A CHANGE give US the fans something WE want!! Or noticing threads, such as about car numbering... with overwhelming support for bringing back the OLD system, and DOING something about it!

But I know that's TOO much to ask!!! Fan relations? Feedback? Transparency? Responsiveness? No such thing in F1 really, is there? :rolleyes:

[edv]

How about online access to the entire F1 video archive (search-able)...free to the users...with ad revenue to pay for it.

[ioan]

How about online access to the entire F1 video archive (search-able)...free to the users...with ad revenue to pay for it.

Great idea, so it will never happen.

[garyshell]

Great idea, so it will never happen.

If Bernie thinks it is his idea and if he gets his cut, it will!

Gary

[Sonic]

Great idea, so it will never happen.

LOL, but true.

[harsha]

I would love for F1 to post free to air content w.r.t the race highlights...it would be too much to expect them to air the whole race itself...but the race highlights along with the post race conferences would be great.

[ArrowsFA1]

FOM have been incredibly slow to provide online F1 content. Even the official website is comparatively new!

As others have said, the press conferences are rarely, if ever televised. It's all very well providing transcripts but why on earth can't http://www.formula1.com/ make them available on video?

Also FOM has an archive of F1 races dating back to the early 80's that they own. Why is some of that not made available?

Looking at what other series offer - http://www.nascar.com/, http://www.formulatwo.com/, http://www.gp2series.com/, http://www.indycar.com/ - then it's clear F1 has some way to go!

Back in 1996/7 I remember Williams showing a website address on their cars and while there wasn't much on the site it was the beginning of the internet in F1. While teams and drivers may have their own sites now, the owners of F1 seem oblivious to what has become the main medium for fans of the sport.

If the WRC "believes rallying is the ideal sport for the digital media age" (link (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80503)) then how is F1 any different?

[Bezza]

Plenty of clips available on BBC Sport website, thesedays, thank God they got the F1 coverage - and they stream all the weekend action from there (only for UK though).

I think the official F1 website is pretty good. Up to date news, live timing and database of past results along with some good collections of archive photos.

The only thing I want to see is HIGH DEFINITION. Come on sort it out, if we can have cricket in HD, then surely F1 can too.

[ArrowsFA1]

Formula 1 has been wholly guilty of not embracing fans enough through new media, but moves are being made to address the situation in time for the 2010 season.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80508

[wedge]

Would never happen unless Bernie found a way to make money off it in some way such as the BBC contract.

[ShiftingGears]

Great idea, so it will never happen.

Aye.

[AndyRAC]

Great idea, so it will never happen.

Yeah, I'm another to agree. It's not a huge surprise though is it. All this new technology probably goes over Bernie's head, all he knows is the traditional media outlets, i;e TV.
There should be an Official channel on YouTube, like lots of sports do. There is so much that could be done.

[truefan72]

what I would love is free online onboard cameras of each car. and/or alternate camera views.

Monday Night football, Sunday Night Football and TNT basketball each have this online multiple camera view thing and they have some solid advertisers on there sponsoring the whole thing.

I don't think F1 would have a problem lining up sponsors for such an enterprise (as long as they stay sensible and don;t overprice themselves)
and it would give fans an incredible view of the racing as well as an opportunity to follow their favorite driver throughout the race.

[I am evil Homer]

You can do that on the BBC Red Button so live the camera feeds and angles are being recorded just not shown all the time!

[555-04Q2]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80501

So what kind of things do you think F1 should be doing online?

Sort out the racing and politics before bothering with better websites etc :p :

[jens]

I have been wondering for some time, when will the bosses of F1 see the light and start taking Internet seriously. I'm tired of seeing F1 videos getting banned from YouTube on a consistent basis, so that it's difficult to get immediate replays of race moments straight after a GP.

[CNR]

it will happen you just don't know about it
http://www.digital-media.net.au/article/channel-ten-bags-online-mobile-iptv-rights-in-f1-deal/508057.aspx

Channel Ten bags online, mobile, IPTV rights in F1 deal


however one could reasonably assume that that the full F1 season will be available to Australians on all three screens (TV, PC, Mobile) in some way.

[speeddurango]

What would make sense to me is enhanced live race video feeds and other information features. For instance, the multiple onboard cameras, the telemetry, selectable team radios, or pitwall cams which Bernie himself mentioned a couple of times, this would be sort of like their kangaroo TV. Such feature wouldn't have to have the main race feed, thus it will not create the kind of competition with the TV company which they feared of, and even if it is pay-content, a lot of people would love to spend their money on it I believe. Race achieves, press conference etc, they are cool but not really the essential part of what would make a great package for the sport, plus most of the old races from 80's can either be downloaded or purchased through abundant resources these days on the internet anyway.

[DexDexter]

FOM have been incredibly slow to provide online F1 content. Even the official website is comparatively new!

As others have said, the press conferences are rarely, if ever televised. It's all very well providing transcripts but why on earth can't http://www.formula1.com/ make them available on video?

Also FOM has an archive of F1 races dating back to the early 80's that they own. Why is some of that not made available?

Looking at what other series offer - http://www.nascar.com/, http://www.formulatwo.com/, http://www.gp2series.com/, http://www.indycar.com/ - then it's clear F1 has some way to go!

Back in 1996/7 I remember Williams showing a website address on their cars and while there wasn't much on the site it was the beginning of the internet in F1. While teams and drivers may have their own sites now, the owners of F1 seem oblivious to what has become the main medium for fans of the sport.

If the WRC "believes rallying is the ideal sport for the digital media age" (link (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80503)) then how is F1 any different?

I totally agree with you :up: . Maybe the slowness of FOM has something to do with people at the helm of it being pretty old.

[Jag_Warrior]

I totally agree with you :up: . Maybe the slowness of FOM has something to do with people at the helm of it being pretty old.

I agree with you on that. While I'm not exactly getting any younger, I do think that the relative "old age" of the F1 powers that be has something to do with this. It's just odd to see the most advanced form of racing be one of the least advanced when it comes to modern, cutting edge media. At least on this side of the Atlantic (even when there was a U.S. GP), F1's merchandising is also a joke.

[Dave B]

Let them finish getting the TV coverage right before they start tinkering with the internet. FOM really are stuck in the late 90s sometimes.

[Roamy]

F1 should sell live streaming video from the drivers in car camera for 19.95 per season. This would make a ton of money and really spur spectators.

[EuroRaceFan]

It really is a shame that some of their great content (collecting dust) is not more readily available.