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Formula 1 finally launches streaming service

By Andrew Hulse

MONTMELO, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer on track during day two of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya on February 27, 2018 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
MONTMELO, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Aston Martin Red Bull Racing RB14 TAG Heuer on track during day two of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya on February 27, 2018 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /
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Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, has really done well with listening to fan requests.  For the most part, fans have been asking for a streaming service and today we finally got good news.

Formula 1 will start streaming F1 TV to thousands of fans early in the 2018 season.  The service is considered an enhancement suite to piggyback off of the televised races.  F1 TV Pro will offer all practice, qualifying and races streamed live and commercial free to your device.  Support series such as GP3 and FIA Formula 2 will also be available live to subscribers.

There will be two types of subscriptions, F1 TV Pro which will include all the live video and a less costly subscription that will have live timing, radio, and highlight footage.  Prices will be 8-12 dollars per month and annually based off of market pricing.

My favorite feature of this will be the ability to have all 20 drivers onboard camera feeds at my

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fingertips.  From the demo video posted with the article, it looks like users will be able to pull up two different cars to watch battles unfold directly from the driver’s view.

Initially, the service will only be available on desktop with apps being rolled out later for multi-device viewing.

Internet fan engagement has always been ignored.

Bernie Ecclestone recently ousted Formula 1 boss was never keen on the sport being broadcast on anything other than the official feed provided by Formula One Management (FOM).  Liberty Media forced Ecclestone out upon purchase of Formula 1 before the 2017 season.  The longtime head honcho of the sport only ever did what he thought was best and at the age of 86 was not a fan of streaming.

Liberty Media is embracing online fandom so far

Liberty Media has not always made the most popular decisions with the sport.  The new Halo cockpit protection has not gone over very well with fans and teams.  The Mercedes AMG Petronas team boss says he wishes he could take a chainsaw and cut it right off.

Formula 1
The unpopular Halo is seen here in winter testing. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images) /

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They have done some good things though, fan engagement is way up with drivers being encouraged to use social media and official Formula 1 youtube videos being uploaded.  The streaming service is just the next big way to engage with more people in more countries.  Hopefully, the trend continues with fan surveys and polls.

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