When the Liberty group took over Formula One they had to get rid of the old school image that the sport had. Bernie Ecclestone had taken it as far as he could and it had stagnated. The sport needed new blood and ideas to progress and take it up to it's next level. They are not there yet and have a long way to go.
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Last year saw for the second year in a row the viewership grow and it hit the double digits. I wouldn't say I am surprised as the races aired on China's free tv CCTV which gave the figures a helping boost. Apparently this number grew by 14 percent (Nielsen).The opposite happened in the Uk with Sky Sports scooping the rights for the next 5 years. Channel 4 will show a highlights package which is not what a sports fan wants. I am sure steaming will be on the rise in the UK as Sky F1 is available on APK Time and Internet TV. Streaming is the new thing as that is how broadcasters make money. Prices vary per country and the F1 live app is $79 for the American viewers.
The biggest market believe it or not is Brazil, Italy and Germany and it must have something to do with having great drivers in the past with Senna and Barichello. Germany much like Brazil have had Schumacher and now Vettel. Italy is the home of Ferrari and an old favorite being the oldest manufacturer associated with Formula One. I can see the Netherlands figures rising as their local hero Max Verstappen eventually wins the world title and it is only a matter of time I think.
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F1 TV is becoming more popular with the streaming options.
The Liberty group must be eyeing the States though as that is the market that this company knows so well. According to the stats there is a little over 30 million viewers which is nothing compared to what it should have. This market is untapped and I expect to see more races there in the future. It would be great to see a Formula One race on a street circuit in one of the major cities like New York. This is what is needed to capture the imagination of the everyday person and to turn them into fans. America needs a driver who can compete and challenge for the world title and until that happens I don't see their figures growing by much.
The problem at the moment is with the televison coverage for the States. ESPN is streaming it online and NBC is using the Sky Sports coverage saving costs by not having to send camera crews and commentators to the race. The problem comes with the advertising breaks as they just keep skipping back and returning whilst the action is on the go. The race is a little over 2 hours long and you could miss huge chunks by all the adverts. I don't blame people streaming or getting apps picking up other feeds from other countries as I can't watch American tv for this very reason.
New initiatives like esports has introduced formula one allowing the top competitors to fly around and show off their skills at the various races. This is one way of getting the next generation interested and