Formula 1 says criticism of Pay TV is 'oversimplification'

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Formula 1 has been criticized for its switch to a pay TV model which has cost the sport fans and viewers, but F1 director of media rights Ian Holmes justified the approach.

F1's cumulative audience - which counts every viewer of every F1 session separately - peaked at 1.922 billion viewers in 2019.

But the sport's global 'unique viewers' metric, which counts viewers only once, decreased by 3.9%, last year which translates into a loss of 19.2 million viewers compared to 2018, when unique viewers totaled 490.

Formula 1 global TV audience reaches 1.9 billion viewers!

The widespread move to Pay TV is seen as the main culprit of the slight decrease. But Holmes defended this week F1's passage to a pay model, insisting demographics were at the core of the decision.

"It goes without saying that an FTA (free-to-air) broadcaster is going to generate a larger audience than a pay TV channel," Holmes said.

"That said, it is a bit of an oversimplification. Firstly, there are always commercial elements to be considered but equally as important, is to look at who the viewers are, what the demographics are, and therefore who you’re addressing.

"Furthermore, pay TV often provides far more in depth coverage and I think it would be fair to say that in the likes of Sky and Canal+ they have and continue to strive to improve the overall standard of F1 coverage, bringing to the fan far more than ever existed in the past – and they do a fantastic job.

"Then there are those people who are consuming F1 content on the different digital and social channels of our broadcast partners and our own F1 owned and operated platforms and channels."

In Britain, while Sky will retain its exclusive coverage, free-to-air F1 fans will be offered extended highlights of all 22 races by Channel 4 as well as live coverage of the British Grand Prix.

Sky's current deal with The Formula One Group runs until the end of 2024.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.