Formula 1 has revealed plans to launch an online live streaming service in 2018 as it reviews its digital and broadcast strategies.
While the sport, under the previous management of Bernie Ecclestone, was wary of embracing new platform technology, new owner Liberty Media is keen to exploit digital opportunities, with a live streaming service from races set to be rolled out for the start of next season.
F1’s commercial chief Sean Bratches has admitted the sport needs to provide an ‘over the top’ offering if it was going to attract bigger future audiences. “We have an obligation to our fans, quite candidly, to ensure that they are able to access our content in any means they want,” he told Autosport F1 writer Jonathan Noble. “We would be derelict if we pursued a path for anything other than that.”
According to Bratches, the aim is to create platforms in the direct-to-consumer arena that engage fans and leverage F1’s assets – whether they are live races, archival or data.
The live OTT offerings will only be available in markets without pre-exiting television deals that have guaranteed exclusivity.
Source: http://advanced-television.com/2017/10/23/f1-plans-ott-service-for-2018/