Channel 4 says an average of 2.3m viewers tuned in to watch the Bahrain Grand Prix with a peak at 3.2m, which made it the most watched UK channel over that slot.
This was C4's first of the 10 Formula One races it is showing live in 2016 after taking over the UK's free-to-air rights from the BBC last winter. By comparison, Sky Sports F1 attracted an average of 605.000 people on pay TV, while the Beeb averaged around 3m last year.
C4’s broadcast mixes 10 grands prix screened live with 11 highlights shows for the other events and its current deal extends through the end of 2018. Sky announced last month that it has already sealed an exclusive broadcast partnership with Formula One Management to show F1 live in the UK and Ireland from 2019 and 2024.
The move, which will effectively take the sport off free-to-air television, has antagonised fans with the mast majority lamenting the switch to a pay TV-only system.
C4’s head of F1 Stephen Lyle recently said the channel would take time to review its options to continue broadcasting F1 after its three-year contract, having already massively invested in its production and a line-up that includes former grand prix winners David Coulthard and Mark Webber.
RACE REPORT: Rosberg beats Raikkonen to win in Bahrain
AS IT HAPPENED: Bahrain Grand Prix
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