just chatted with sky to confirm... there will be NO extra charge or extra subscription in april , for those of ud who receive F1 HD because we are with the sky HD package... it will continue with the F! channel being included for free.

Glad they are not going to hike it up, I fully expected them to just add it to the sports package. I like Sky Sports F1 HD.

Some interesting stats about BBC and Sky F1 coverage over the weekend - for the Malaysian GP race (presumably just the Sunday shows):

BBC - 4.01m viewers (with a peak of 4.66m)

Sky - 722k viewers (with a peak of 1.35m)

By chance I recorded and watched an episode of Sky's F1 show which was on Sky1 Channel Friday night - presented by Ted Kravitz and Natalie Pinkham. Got to say, I won't be in a hurry to switch over to Sky coverage - wasn't very slick, bit wooden in places, bit boring if I'm honest. There was a bit when someone interviewed Max Chilton next to some touch screen, he hardly looked at the camera, seemed to be looking everywhere but.

I'll stick with BBC - they even "de-tuned" the opening credits as there were so many complaints that the sound effects were going over and spoling "The Chain"!

I just couldn't stand the commentary on bbc. Crofty is a bit of a plonka some of the time, but compared to the brief watch of BBC's efforts I had, I can live with him. I love Ted & his note book too. I'll be honest I'v not bothered watching any of the other shows on the F1 channel except a few old races, just to marvel at the retro liverys. Half and half BAR anyone? lol

I wonder out of the BBC's 4m share, how many are also Sky subscribers? High % I reckon.

Had some interesting liveries did BAR in the early days:

My only time watching sky f1 was last year when they gave it away for 1 weekends, I did like the red button options for different screens etc.

Problem is I have Virginia media, so to get sky f1 and all races live is 25 quid a month extra ai can not justify it.

Bbc highlights will have to do for me.

I can't afford Sky. SInce I still live at home it would be a nightmare to get it plus I don't really enjoy the coverage. I do watch it using other means when it's not live on BBC but still watch BBC highlights regardless

Ours went up from £24.50 for the standard Sky package to £34.50 as we got a +hd box and the F1 channel. How does that work out free ?

I wonder out of the BBC's 4m share, how many are also Sky subscribers? High % I reckon.

Had some interesting liveries did BAR in the early days:

Ha thats the one! Because they couldnt have two different coloured cars.

Big deal about Sky vs BBC figs. One is free and more people watch it, so what. The point is that if you have Sky HD you can watch an awful lot of other F1 stuff. You can also watch other races Gp 2 etc. Now BBC want to show the F1 practices as well. Rather than buy the cheap bits why didn't the mgmt bite the bullet and show all the races live?

Maybe so, but clearly people are choosing not to.

Sky must have in excess of 8m subscribers in the UK yet for something like F1 can only draw in 16% of the viewing audience.

I have Sky and thought by their standards the programme was very poor and wooden.