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Formula 1 fans in the United States will get to watch Sky's grand prix coverage in 2018, after it was confirmed that ESPN and ABC will broadcast the pay TV channel's service this season. After F1's previous US broadcaster NBC announced that it was not interested in extending its television rights deal into 2018, the sport's owners Liberty Media concluded a deal with ESPN and ABC instead.
Now it has been announced that the two American network channels will use Sky's comprehensive F1 service for its coverage. All of the 21 races scheduled for this season are set to be shown.
Sky's coverage boasts a host of former F1 drivers including Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert, Paul di Resta and Anthony Davidson.
ESPN's Kate Jackson said: "We are excited to work with the Sky Sports team. Their coverage of F1 is second to none and we look forward to bringing their expertise and authenticity to our audiences."
I didn't dislike the NBC crew (and hearing Diffey doing luge and talking about tenths just feels right) but this is way better than whatever ESPN would have cobbled together left to their own devices so it's tremendously good news in my book.
I didn't dislike the NBC crew (and hearing Diffey doing luge and talking about tenths just feels right) but this is way better than whatever ESPN would have cobbled together left to their own devices so it's tremendously good news in my book.
Buxton was annoying as hell--won't miss him one bit.
I really liked Steve Machett and David Hobbs and am sad to see them go. Buxton grew on me like a fungus.... and was fine toward the end in a squirrel on crack sort of way! Everyone says the Sky broadcast is much better and hope they don't dumb it down to placate the newly acquired American audience.
As an aside, Diffey, Matchett and Hobbs have been hired to broadcast the first 4 races of the Formula E series this year....
Damon Hill has something that NBC guys did not. Winning a WDC Diffy should stick to events that going down ice tracks and Sprint cars on a dirt track in a corn field and Indy
I guess it's better than nothing. I’m still holding out for a proper F1 streaming subscription. I'm willing to pay to watch the sky sports stream, but I'm not going to shell out for a cable subscription just for that.
Never really liked Damon Hill. Alway thought he was pretentious when I've heard him interviewed. Don't know how he is a commentator, nor the rest of the Sky group. Machett and Hobbs had good chemistry. I won't miss Diffy. I couldn't stand Buxton when he started, but he grew a LOT over his years, His grid run and bullring questions were usually pretty good.
Seriously. This is the BEST POSSIBLE NEWS EVER for fellow F1 fans in the US.
Martin Brundle is a straight shooter, knows his s'''t, and doesn't mince words. Love him - no bull.
Rest of crew is great and insightful - you can't substitute the experience of actual ex-F1 drivers, or more relevant, overstate the connection between this UK based coverage and the teams that themselves are mostly UK based.
The only drawback is Hammy fandom, but you have to put that aside on the whole. At least while he's winning WDC's.
I really liked Steve Machett and David Hobbs and am sad to see them go. Buxton grew on me like a fungus.... and was fine toward the end in a squirrel on crack sort of way! Everyone says the Sky broadcast is much better and hope they don't dumb it down to placate the newly acquired American audience.
As an aside, Diffey, Matchett and Hobbs have been hired to broadcast the first 4 races of the Formula E series this year....
Wow, that audience is sure to number in the dozens
Seriously. This is the BEST POSSIBLE NEWS EVER for fellow F1 fans in the US.
Martin Brundle is a straight shooter, knows his s'''t, and doesn't mince words. Love him - no bull.
Rest of crew is great and insightful - you can't substitute the experience of actual ex-F1 drivers, or more relevant, overstate the connection between this UK based coverage and the teams that themselves are mostly UK based.
The only drawback is Hammy fandom, but you have to put that aside on the whole. At least while he's winning WDC's.
02-13-2018, 01:53 PM
ESPN to carry Sky coverage of F1 in 2018
