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Tag: Formula 1

  • Disney Star India in shortlist for SportsPro OTT awards

    Disney Star India in shortlist for SportsPro OTT awards

    MUMBAI: There’s good news for Disney Star India. Its tech innovations have got a pat on the back from the leading streaming awards for –  the SportsPro OTT awards.

    The company’s streaming service has been shortlisted in the categories of innovation and platform of the year and for its marketing strategy while Star Sports has found a mention among the toppers in the use of artificial intelligence.

    Disney+Hotstar worked with the ICC to introduce Max View during the World Cup – which allows users to switch to a vertical view, maximizing the screen space for a more immersive experience. This innovation has been shortlisted in the innovation of the year category.

    The streamer recorded peak viewership numbers of 5.9 crore viewers during the World Cup final between India and Australia, which required deft engineering excellence. The SportsPro OTT Awards have recognised this effort by shortlisting Disney+Hotstar  in the platform of the year category (from a network) for managing this humungous traffic using cutting edge technologies.

    Its marketing campaign for the World Cup 2023 which resulted in it never seen before cumulative viewers  through its messaging “One Platform, One Nation: Online India Comes Together for Cricket World Cup 2023” has been placed in the shortlist of the marketing category.

    Finally, Star Sports  use of artificial intelligence to translate international cricketers commentary into Indian regional languages has got a mention in the best use of AI category.

    The awards, which were created by leading UK-based  publication SportsProMedia, have a jury consisting of executives from some of the top sports firms including Formula 1, IMG Sports, SailGP, Dazn, among many others.

  • Audi announces strategic partnership with Formula 1

    Audi announces strategic partnership with Formula 1

    Mumbai: Audi, which announced its entry into Formula 1 at the end of August, has selected Sauber as a strategic partner for the project and plans to acquire a stake in the Sauber Group. The partnership will see the traditional Swiss racing team competing as the Audi factory team from 2026 onwards, using the power unit developed by Audi for the pinnacle of motorsport.

    Sauber has around 30 years of competitive experience. While the power unit will be created at Audi’s Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg an der Donau, Sauber will develop and manufacture the race car at its site in Hinwil (Switzerland). Sauber will also be responsible for planning and executing the race operations.

    “We are delighted to have gained such an experienced and competent partner for our ambitious Formula 1 project. We already know the Sauber Group with its state-of-the-art facility and experienced team from previous collaborations and are convinced that together we will form a strong team,” said Audi AG member of the board for technical development Oliver Hoffmann. For example, Audi Sport has already regularly used the Sauber Group’s high-tech wind tunnel in Hinwil, just under four hours away by car, during the successful Le Mans era and during the development of the Class 1 touring car for the DTM.

    “Sauber is a first-class partner,” he added.

    “Audi is the best partner for the Sauber Group. It is clear that both companies share the same values and vision. We are looking forward to achieving our common goals with a strong and successful partnership,” said Sauber Holding chairman Finn Rausing.

    Development of the power unit, which consists of an electric motor, battery, control systems and a combustion engine, is already in full swing at the facility of the specially founded Audi Formula Racing in Neuburg an der Donau. More than 120 employees are already working on the project. “Sauber is a first-class partner for the use of the Audi Power Unit. We are looking forward to working with an experienced team that has helped shape many eras of Formula 1 history. Together, we want to write the next chapter starting in 2026,” said the company’s managing director Adam Baker.

    The expansion of the Neuburg facility is in full swing. The timetable up to the first race with Audi participation in the 2026 season is ambitious. The expansion of the Neuburg facility in terms of personnel, buildings, and technical infrastructure should be largely in place in 2023. The first tests with the power unit developed for the 2026 regulations in a Formula 1 test car are planned for 2025.

    Formula 1 is taking a big step towards sustainability with the new regulations that will come into effect in 2026. This was an important prerequisite for Audi’s decision to enter the championship. The power units will be more efficient than they are today, as the proportion of electric power will increase significantly. The electric drivetrain will then have nearly as much power as the internal combustion engine, which comes to 400 kW (544 hp). The 1.6-liter turbocharged engines will be powered by sustainable synthetic fuel that is CO2-neutral (according to EU standards). Formula 1 has also set itself the goal of being CO2-neutral as a racing series by 2030.

  • Disney, ESPN & Formula 1 extend relationship with new, multi-year contract

    Disney, ESPN & Formula 1 extend relationship with new, multi-year contract

    Mumbai: In the midst of what is on track to be a record-breaking season of viewership, Walt Disney Co, ESPN and Formula 1 have extended their relationship with a new, multi-year contract. This will keep F1 races on ESPN Networks in the US through the 2025 season.

    The renewal was announced at the Formula 1 Aaramco United States Grand Prix 2022 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. This is the second of the two US stops for F1 during the 2022 season.

    Under the renewal, at least 16 races will air on ABC and ESPN each season, more than in the previous five years since F1 returned to ESPN networks in 2018. Also, all race telecasts on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will continue the commercial-free presentation used over the past five seasons, a format that has set ESPN’s coverage apart and proved very popular with viewers.

    The new agreement also includes expanded direct-to-consumer rights, giving ESPN flexibility to roll out additional ways for fans in the US to consume F1 content over the next three years, including on ESPN+, with details to be announced later.

    Formula 1 returned to its original US television home in 2018 – the first race ever aired in the country was on ABC in 1962. F1 races also aired on ESPN from 1984-1997.

    “Formula 1 and ESPN have been a strong and successful team and we’re delighted to extend our relationship. We look forward to serving fans in some new and innovative ways in the next three years as we continue to bring the reach and relevance of the Walt Disney Company networks and platforms to Formula 1,” said ESPN president of programming and original content Burke Magnus.

    After setting a record in 2021 for the most-viewed F1 season ever on US television with an average of 9,49,000 viewers per race, the average has moved into seven figures in 2022. Through 18 races, live F1 telecasts are averaging 1.2 million viewers on ESPN networks – with multiple events attracting race-record television audiences.

    Earlier this year, the telecast of the inaugural Miami Grand Prix on ABC generated an average viewership of 2.6 million, the largest US audience on record for a live F1 race.

    “We are delighted to announce that our partnership with ESPN will continue. Formula 1 has seen incredible growth in the United States with sold out events and record television audiences, and the addition of Las Vegas to the calendar next season, alongside Austin and Miami, will see us host three spectacular races there. The ESPN networks have played a huge part in that growth with their dedicated quality coverage. We are excited to expand our relationship and continue to bring the passion and excitement of Formula 1 to our viewers in the US together” said Formula 1 president & CEO Stefano Domenicali.

    “After Formula 1 returned to the ESPN networks five years ago, the popularity of the sport has grown impressively. The extension and expansion of our partnership is a reflection of exciting times ahead and a result of our shared desire to bring Formula 1 to as broad and diverse an audience as possible in the U.S. The popular commercial-free broadcasts ensure that viewers continue to engage with F1 before, during and after the race. From next year we will have six races in the Americas, which means more favourable time zones to fans in the region, making the Formula 1 offering more compelling than ever,” said Formula 1 director of media rights and content creation Ian Holmes.

    All race weekends will continue to include live telecasts of all three practice sessions and qualifying (including the F1 Sprint) as well as pre-race and post-race coverage. The new agreement includes an increased focus on qualifying, with more sessions airing on ESPN or ESPN2.

    ESPN Deportes will continue as the Spanish-language home of F1 in the US and ESPN’s coverage of F1 also includes a dedicated site that reports on the championship year-round.

    In addition, ESPN studio shows including SportsCenter will continue on-site coverage from races in the US, including the new event in Las Vegas for 2023, with coverage at other races potentially added. ESPN also will be creating additional ancillary programming on its platforms to support its F1 coverage over the next three years.

    During each of the five seasons that F1 has been on ESPN networks since its return, the amount of F1 content on ESPN television and digital platforms has steadily increased. This year, the Sky Sports F1 programs Ted’s Qualifying Notebook and Ted’s Race Notebook were added, airing on ESPN3 during race weekends, and the video podcast programme Unlapped began appearing on the ESPN YouTube channel.

  • Netflix, Formula 1 announce new seasons of ‘Drive to Survive’

    Netflix, Formula 1 announce new seasons of ‘Drive to Survive’

    MUMBAI: The OTT platform Netflix and Formula 1 have announced the renewal of the popular docu-drama Drive to Survive Season fifth and sixth on Netflix. Season four has been accepted by the viewers in 33 different nations. 

    The next season will be held in 2023 and the show will continue on Netflix till 2024, according to the media report.

    Netflix claims that the show has grown in popularity over time and in its last season has attracted the biggest audience. 

    The new seasons will once again take fans behind the scenes, to witness first-hand how the drivers and teams prepare to battle it out for the next season. The series will offer never-before-seen footage and interviews from the sport’s biggest names.

  • Star Sports launches promo film ahead of Australian GP

    Star Sports launches promo film ahead of Australian GP

    Mumbai: Star Sports has launched a promo film ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. The race will be broadcasted on Star Sports Select and Disney+ Hotstar on 10 April starting at 10:30 a.m.

    Titled “The Hunter Will Be Hunted,” the promo film emphasises how the hunt for supremacy is back on track as the challengers will look to hunt down and stop Max Verstappen and take his spot at the top of the F1 pyramid, according to the broadcaster.

    Seven-time driver’s world champion Hamilton who dominated the sport for the last decade was beaten by Max Verstappen in the 2021 season in one of the most dramatic finishes to an F1 season in Abu Dhabi last year.

    The promo film also highlights the new feature of the 2022 racing cars that will allow for closer racing and the potential for overtakes. The new season has brought with it new rules, and new drivers in various teams all of whom are gunning for the reigning champion Verstappen.

    This season, attention is drawn towards the front of the grid where Ferrari and Red Bull have performed well in the first two race weekends. In the opening race of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr pulled off a 1-2 finish. In the following race in Saudi Arabia, Max Verstappen grabbed a thrilling win for Red Bull edging Ferrari by 0.5 seconds.

    The Australian GP will be held at the Melbourne Circuit after a two-year hiatus. Hamilton and Mercedes have had a rocky start and the focus will also be on whether they will make a strong comeback during the Australian GP.

  • Discovery+ has documentaries on Pele, Niki Lauda, Damon Hill, ‘Jacky’ Ickx

    Discovery+ has documentaries on Pele, Niki Lauda, Damon Hill, ‘Jacky’ Ickx

    Real-life entertainment streaming app Discovery+ has added two more titles to their documentary streaming list for Indian audiences. 

    The first one, Pele: The Last Show is based on the life of legendary Brazilian footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele. The documentary narrates the football legend’s journey through his last competitive game, giving rare insights into his personality through the eyes of people who knew him.  

    Pele: The Last Show will show real-life events that happened during Pele’s final game for the New York Cosmos team, which dominated the golden age of football in the US in the late seventies and the early eighties. 

    The second documentary named Ferrari 312B will enthral formula one lovers. The documentary features legendary race drivers like Niki Lauda, Damon Hill, and Jacques Bernard aka ‘Jacky’ Ickx in the star cast. The feature narrates the crazy happenings before the revolutionary Ferrari model was restored and brought back on the iconic Monza circuit track, after a gap of 46 years.  

    Ferrari 312B is also a tribute to its original designer in the seventies, the legendary Mauro Forghieri, under whom the restoration project also took wings. 

  • Pirelli extends Formula 1 global tyre partner deal till 2023

    Pirelli extends Formula 1 global tyre partner deal till 2023

    MUMBAI: Formula 1 and the Federation of International Automobiles (FIA) have announced Pirelli as the sole Global Tyre partner of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The new deal will run for four years, from 2020 to the 2023 season inclusive.

    Following the successful partnership, which was up for renewal at the end of 2019, a new agreement has been completed continuing Pirelli’s longstanding relationship with the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. All parties have reaffirmed their commitment to work together towards the new technical regulations expected for 2021, including the 18-inch tyre.

    Formula 1 chairman and CEO Chase Carey said, “Pirelli have been an important and valued partner to Formula 1 since 2011. They are leaders in providing innovative state of the art capabilities. They are a premium brand, a clear global leader in motorsport and our ongoing partnership with them is proof once more of our desire to align F1 with the best in motorsport and beyond. We are delighted to have reached this agreement, which guarantees a long-term stable future for such a crucial component of Formula 1.”

    FIA president Jean Todt said, “I am happy to have Pirelli appointed for another period as official tyre supplier to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship. It will allow all of us to enjoy the experience gained since 2011. We know how crucial and difficult is the role of the tyre supplier and, particularly, in Formula 1.”

    Pirelli VP and CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera said, “It’s excellent news that Pirelli is prolonging its partnership with Formula 1 until 2023. This new agreement extends our presence to a total of 13 seasons in the modern era, with Pirelli also present in 1950, when the World Championship was inaugurated. Formula 1 is and will remain the pinnacle of motorised competition: the perfect environment for Pirelli, which has always defined motorsport as its most advanced technological research and development laboratory. Formula 1 provides the perfect showcase for our Ultra High Performance road car tyres, which equip the world’s most desirable prestige and premium vehicles to guarantee the highest standards of performance, sustainability and safety.”

  • James Gough’s innovative idea will be incubated with the intent to prototype it at Formula 1®’s Media & Technology Centre

    James Gough’s innovative idea will be incubated with the intent to prototype it at Formula 1®’s Media & Technology Centre

    MUMBAI: Formula 1® Managing Director of Motorsports, Ross Brawn, and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Driver, Lewis Hamilton, today crowned James Gough the winner of this year’s USD $50,000 F1® Innovation Prize at the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI 2018 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX in Austin. The lifelong F1® fan from the UK developed his entry around the ‘My F1®’ themed challenge using the sport’s unique set of human, mechanical and technical data to create the ultimate customised viewing experience for fans worldwide.

    In a world-first for global sport, this year’s winning idea will be incubated with the intent to prototype it at Formula
    1®’s Media & Technology Centre in the UK. During the incubation, James will work closely with Formula 1® engineers to develop his idea, which – as the ultimate demonstration of fan engagement – has the potential to shape the future of the sport.

    F1® Innovation Prize is a joint initiative by Tata Communications, Formula 1® and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport. James beat out fierce competition from around the globe with his Virtual Smart Assistant idea, which stood out for the esteemed panel of judges. The app, which functions as a fan’s personal F1 guide, provides seamless, instant access to insights on each driver, team, car, practice session, qualifying or race-on-demand. As a result, it could help turn new fans from casual viewers into F1®  experts, while offering hardcore fans a whole new level of insights. Excitingly, not only is the proposed solution integrated with existing smart assistants including Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, it is also equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. So, the more a fan uses the Virtual Smart Assistant, the more it learns about their preferences, customising the information it offers accordingly.

    The ‘My F1®’ theme of this year’s competition is part of Formula 1®’s mission to enable everyone – from trackside fans to the most casual armchair viewer – to create their own, more customised F1® experiences using different data points and digital platforms.

    “We want to break down the barriers of language and technical know-how so that more people around the world are able to immerse themselves in the greatest sporting spectacle on earth,” said Ross Brawn, Formula 1®. “Through new features like the Halo graphics and live events like our F1® Festival series, we’re continually looking for ways to bring more fans closer to the sport. That’s exactly what James’ winning idea seeks to do too in a truly innovative way. I look forward to seeing his concept come to life in our Media & Technology Centre.”

    “This is such an exciting time for the sport, with more and more ways for people around the world to get close to the world of F1®  – through social media, online, and of course the F1®  Innovation Prize,” said Lewis Hamilton. “There’s so much happening at any given second during a race. James’ idea was my favourite because it lets both die-hard fans and those who might be new to the sport make sense of it all and really immerse themselves in the action.”

    “I’ve been a huge fan of F1® since I was a teenager, but never in a million years did I think that one day I’d get the chance to be part of the F1® circus – that’s why winning means so much to me,” said James Gough. “Through my app, I want other fans to get a glimpse of being on the inside of the sport they love. I hope that my idea will help give fans access to all the data they want, and that they’re able to use the data to not only see what’s happening but to understand why it happened. It should lead to more people getting involved in the sport.”

    “During the last five years, this competition has shown us how much untapped potential there is in the global community of F1® fans, and now we’re taking this initiative one step further by turning the winning idea from concept to reality,” said Mehul Kapadia, Managing Director of Tata Communications’ F1®  business and the company’s Global Head of Marketing. “From bringing half a billion fans worldwide the Grand Prix action each season to testing in action cutting-edge technologies like UHD video and virtual reality – we’re excited to be part of the digital transformation of this great sport. Like with other multinational enterprises, it’s all about supporting Formula 1® as the organisation leverages the latest tech innovations to grow its global audience and open up new revenue streams.”

    The panel of judges for the 2018 F1® Innovation Prize included Lewis, Ross and Mehul, as well as Roberto Dalla, Managing Director of Broadcasting and Technical Operations, Formula 1®;  Technical Director of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, James Allison; and former F1® Driver and Sky Sports F1® commentator, Martin Brundle.
     

  • F1 TV to launch on Amazon Prime

    F1 TV to launch on Amazon Prime

    MUMBAI: Formula 1 (F1) recently launched its over the top (OTT) platform F1 TV and is now planning to hop on Amazon Prime. With the deal, F1 TV is expected to grow by more than 100 million subscribers, according to Digiday.

    The OTT service was launched in the month of May with two service models F1 TV Pro (Live) and F1 TV Access (non-live) at two different price points. F1 TV Pro is priced at of $70-$150 annually, and monthly rates ranging from $8-12.

    Formula 1 head of global sponsorship and commercial partnerships Murray Barnett was quoted as saying, “It makes sense for us to be on there (Amazon Prime) because it’s an open platform and we’re already in discussions with them about distribution in the future. In the US we have an agreement with ESPN that allows us to exploit our own OTT service separately so we’ll definitely be on Amazon Prime (there).”

    The service would be made available to Prime subscribers in countries where the local broadcaster has given up its exclusive rights under new or renegotiated deals. Formula 1 must negotiate the freedom to launch its OTT service in each media-rights deal it agrees, as broadcasters who agree to the F1 TV launch in their territory lose some exclusivity.

    Barnett sees F1 TV as a stand-alone revenue source exclusive of their relationship with the TV partners. “We want to be one of the smarter channels on the Amazon Prime platform,” he added.

  • Formula 1 launches OTT platform with two subscription models

    Formula 1 launches OTT platform with two subscription models

    MUMBAI: Formula 1 (F1), one of the world’s most prized sporting properties, launched its over the top (OTT) service F1 TV last month. The platform comes with two service models – F1 TV Pro (Live) and F1 TV Access (non-live) – at different price points.

    F1 TV Pro, the premium tier, will feature live races and all 20 driver-cameras, as well as side-by-side live race viewing and additional exclusive feeds.  Subscribers will be able to personalise the way they watch a Grand Prix race, the content they view and how and when they access it.

    For now it has been launched on desktops and is available to users on Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Apple TV shortly. Pricing will be offered on an annual basis of $70-$150, with monthly rates ranging from $8-12.

    F1 TV Pro is present in more than 55 territories including Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia and France to name a few.

    All of practice, qualifying and races will be offered live, along with press conferences and pre and post-race interviews. Later in the season, the main support series FIA Formula 2 Championship, GP3 Series and Porsche Supercup will be added to the service.

    A less expensive, non-live subscription tier, F1 TV Access, is priced at $2.99 per month and will provide live race timing data and radio broadcasts, as well as extended highlights of each session from the race weekend. 

    It will also be underscored by unprecedented access to archive video content from the amazing historic archive owned by Formula 1. F1 TV Access will be available on a near-global basis at launch, to complement F1 TV Pro and will also be added to throughout the season. F1 TV Access will be present in most of the countries, including India.

    According to an official media statement, Tata Communications, F1 business MD Mehul Kapadia, said “F1 is the first global sport to adopt such an ambitious mobile strategy – and we’re excited to be part of it. A single global OTT video platform, with multiple live feeds and hundreds of hours of past highlights, gives fans the power to create their own unique, immersive motorsports experiences. It’s a way to keep existing audiences hooked and attract new fans to the world of F1 too.”

    Formula 1 director of digital and new business Frank Arthofer predicts that there is tremendous opportunity in the OTT space to provide F1’s avid fans with a unique F1 viewing experience across all devices.  

    “With this launch, fans will find an easy-to-use streaming experience, rich with live and on-demand content available only on F1 TV, all at a great price,” he said
    Formula 1 senior research manager David Bailey informed that linear coverage of the sport will continue alongside the category’s recently-launched F1 TV OTT service, with the service’s roll-out dependent on broadcast arrangements in respective territories.

    Suggesting that there was “more to come” in terms of data that could be made available to F1 TV subscribers, Bailey said that broadcast partners were “hugely important” to the sport and that such relationships would play a role in determining where and when F1 TV would be launched in the future.

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