Legacy F1 entitlement with Sky discontinued

v10 · 30-03-2021 12:14pm #1

Maybe this had been discussed before but yesterday I was informed from Sky that I can no longer get F1 without a Sports package. I've had it included in my package since they took over in 2012(?) .. apparently all customers are being automatically changed to their new Signature package from next month and will no longer get F1 unless they have the Sports addon.

I don't know how many of you have F1 this way but I was pissed off to say the least, I've no interest in any other sport so paying for all the sports channels is not going to happen. It's almost like the want people to use dodgy boxes!

Zaph · 30-03-2021 12:24pm

Ah ffs, I'm not at all happy about that. Haven't received any notification yet myself, but that's grossly unfair to anyone who has been paying over the odds for the HD package for years just so we can keep the F1 channel.

Sunny Dayz · 30-03-2021 12:30pm

Wouldn’t be at all happy with that at all. It’s the reason we have the HD subscription. Feels like I’ve had that argument with Sky a number of times. It would be really sh1tty if they cut it off next month when the F1 season has just started. Nobody in Sky has contacted me about changing my subscription.

v10 · 30-03-2021 12:33pm

Zaph wrote: »

Ah ffs, I'm not at all happy about that. Haven't received any notification yet myself, but that's grossly unfair to anyone who has been paying over the odds for the HD package for years just so we can keep the F1 channel.

Yep, I spent an hour arguing with a few different people but in the end just cancelled my subscription after 20+ years ..

I wouldn't mind but it's not like they've stopped charging for HD

Their new packages are here and apparently all customers will be automatically switched around the end of April and they will be notifying customers over the next week or so.

I was only made aware because I called looking to see if I could get the cost down a but as I do every now and again.

Zaph · 30-03-2021 1:08pm

There are often deals for Sky Sports on NowTV. Been using it myself while all the EPL matches are on TV, but was planning on probably dropping it at the end of the season and I still would have had the F1 channel on my Sky subscription. Looks like I'll switch to a cheaper Sky package now and hold on to NowTV as well.

v10 · 30-03-2021 1:14pm

Zaph wrote: »

There are often deals for Sky Sports on NowTV. Been using it myself while all the EPL matches are on TV, but was planning on probably dropping it at the end of the season and I still would have had the F1 channel on my Sky subscription. Looks like I'll switch to a cheaper Sky package now and hold on to NowTV as well.

Well for me F1 was the main reason I was holding on to my sky subscription. Can't remember the last time (other than F1) that I've watched something live, it's always recorded or catchup. These days there's so many easy ways to get TV after it's aired that Sky just seems a total rip off. As long as we've Netflix and Disney in the house everyone else is happy. So losing F1 was the nail in the coffin.

I've just signed up for F1 TV Pro @ €65 for a year so I'll see how that goes.

dastardly00 · 30-03-2021 1:18pm

I'm not a Sky customer but I thought the idea behind the Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Cricket channels etc. was that a customer could pick and choose the specific channels they wanted based on a sport.

v10 · 30-03-2021 1:19pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

I'm not a Sky customer but I thought the idea behind the Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Cricket channels etc. was that a customer could pick and choose the specific channels they wanted based on a sport.

You would think so .. but no they only come as a bundle

antodeco · 30-03-2021 1:21pm

I ditched all my sky sports and sports channels about a year ago (including NowTV). Use a different service now that provides me with all the sports channels for a lot less. Obviously not something I'd discuss on here

jhegarty · 30-03-2021 1:22pm

v10 wrote: »

Well for me F1 was the main reason I was holding on to my sky subscription. Can't remember the last time (other than F1) that I've watched something live, it's always recorded or catchup. These days there's so many easy ways to get TV after it's aired that Sky just seems a total rip off. As long as we've Netflix and Disney in the house everyone else is happy. So losing F1 was the nail in the coffin.

I've just signed up for F1 TV Pro @ €65 for a year so I'll see how that goes.

Does that sub work in Ireland ?

v10 · 30-03-2021 1:23pm

antodeco wrote: »

I ditched all my sky sports and sports channels about a year ago (including NowTV). Use a different service now that provides me with all the sports channels for a lot less. Obviously not something I'd discuss on here

They're only encouraging people to look at these "different services" with their rip off tactics.

v10 · 30-03-2021 1:25pm

jhegarty wrote: »

Does that sub work in Ireland ?

Not officially, but I'll tell you for sure after the next race!

joujoujou · 30-03-2021 1:39pm

v10 wrote: »

[...]

I've just signed up for F1 TV Pro @ €65 for a year so I'll see how that goes.

For all interested, few countries have F1 TV Pro priced @ 50 euro a year, and other few weekly free trial.

v10 · 30-03-2021 1:45pm

joujoujou wrote: »

For all interested, few countries have F1 TV Pro priced @ 50 euro a year, and other few weekly free trial.

True, I just had problems getting payment through for some, but eventually got it to work at €65, which I don't mind paying if it works ok.

ads20101 · 30-03-2021 4:30pm

Is this happening to subscribers that are out of contract (that could leave tomorrow if they wanted to) or is this affecting those currently in an active annual contract.

Because, if it is the latter, I renewed in December of last year and they used the fact that I watched and had the legacy f1 channel as a sales tactic to keep me.

I’d be more than a bit miffed if sky had misled me in such an open and transparent way.

v10 · 30-03-2021 4:33pm

ads20101 wrote: »

Is this happening to subscribers that are out of contract (that could leave tomorrow if they wanted to) or is this affecting those currently in an active annual contract.

Because, if it is the latter, I renewed in December of last year and they used the fact that I watched and had the legacy f1 channel as a sales tactic to keep me.

I’d be more than a bit miffed if sky had misled me in such an open and transparent way.

I couldn't say for sure but it was implied to me that all customers would be migrated to the new signature package at the end of April and that they have no way to add F1 as a standalone to that package. They couldn't do anything for me whether I wanted to pay for it or not ..

17larsson · 01-04-2021 7:43am

It's as if they don't want you to watch formula 1.
It's the same with football, if you want to watch all the games legally it will cost you crazy money.

If they offered sports in individual packages I would have went for that but I've since found much better, much cheaper ways of watching sports on tv so they'll never get me back now.

If you have good internet, spend a day researching alternative methods and you'll never look back

Wanderer78 · 01-04-2021 7:50am

17larsson wrote:

If you have good internet, spend a day researching alternative methods and you'll never look back

Just bought a Chromecast, it's 'alternatives' all the way, but I have to say, there still seems to be good deals out there, other than sky. I've spent lockdown testing a shed load of 'alternatives', some truly dreadful ones out there, but I'm after finding some gems to, be careful where you spend your money folks

rock22 · 01-04-2021 8:26am

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Just bought a Chromecast, it's 'alternatives' all the way, but I have to say, there still seems to be good deals out there, other than sky. I've spent lockdown testing a shed load of 'alternatives', some truly dreadful ones out there, but I'm after finding some gems to, be careful where you spend your money folks

Interested how this works as i also have Chromecast.
How do you get F1 on Chromecast?

Wanderer78 · 01-04-2021 10:27am

rock22 wrote: »

Interested how this works as i also have Chromecast.
How do you get F1 on Chromecast?

new 2020 model? after that i cant mention it on the open forum

h3000 · 01-04-2021 7:48pm

I’m not a die hard fan. I prefer WRC and MotoGP but if I do lose the F1 channel I’ll just cancel my subscription too. I really don’t watch much else on Sky.

h3000 · 02-04-2021 5:43am

LIGHTNING wrote: »

The move to pay channels is what pretty much killed WRC viewer figures. They are doing the same with Rugby and its only a matter of time before it nose dives as well.

It was nearly impossible to watch WRC at all for a few years. BT had the rights but I’d often go to watch a recorded program and BT would have showed tennis in its place.

The WRC has its own streaming service now though and it’s fantastic. Every stage is broadcast live and its decent value at €90 a year. The downside though is that it does nothing to attract new fans. If you’re going to pay for the subscription you’re already a big fan of the sport.

seamusk84 · 02-04-2021 6:42am

That’s right, I had to sign up to a sky sports package two weeks back when I realized I had lost the F1 channel.
Fecking disaster as I only watch the F1!
But sure what can we do. They have the monopoly and their coverage is extensive and high quality.
Note, my wife did not notice the jump in our bill this week.
Also got the first 6 months half price...So not all bad.

Probes · 02-04-2021 7:06am

I have a feeling Sky's time with F1 is up. They appear to be trying to squeeze what they can out of it now. I think they have another 3 or 4 years but F1 are well known to be pushing their own TV subscription and also want F1 shown on free TV. They started showing more adverts during the programme also. I guess they are going to try to get people paying as much as possible until the contract expires. I'd be delighted if F1 could cancel it somehow, I'd prefer to subscribe to their channel.

v10 · 02-04-2021 12:36pm

seamusk84 wrote: »

But sure what can we do.

Plenty, I now have F1 and at a fraction of what Sky wanted for it.

flazio · 02-04-2021 6:15pm

Personally, if bootleggers are involved in other shady dealings, I'd be afraid any of my personal or payment details would end up in the hands of the authorities if they ever catch up with them.

antodeco · 02-04-2021 10:40pm

flazio wrote: »

Personally, if bootleggers are involved in other shady dealings, I'd be afraid any of my personal or payment details would end up in the hands of the authorities if they ever catch up with them.

One I used was paid through PayPal. They had a website selling hammers. They sent you a hammer and somehow younger IPTV with it

v10 · 02-04-2021 11:03pm

flazio wrote: »

Personally, if bootleggers are involved in other shady dealings, I'd be afraid any of my personal or payment details would end up in the hands of the authorities if they ever catch up with them.

Well I just signed up through F1TV, so nothing dodgy except my location !

AMKC · 05-04-2021 11:29pm

Its ridiculous that Sky can not offer any of the sports channels they have to customers separately.

I think the contract Sky made with Vernie Ecclestone must have had something saying that the F1 channel should only be sold with the other sports channels as maybe they thought that would get them more viewers but it's not. It is doing the opposite and Sky are fools not to notice this and change it.

lertsnim · 06-04-2021 8:19am

AMKC wrote: »

I think the contract Sky made with Vernie Ecclestone must have had something saying that the F1 channel should only be sold with the other sports channels as maybe they thought that would get them more viewers but it's not.

Can UK Sky customers not subscribe to individual sport channels rather than taking them all? Even if they couldn't that would be a very strange stipulation to have on a contract.

AMKC · 06-04-2021 10:56am

lertsnim wrote: »

Can UK Sky customers not subscribe to individual sport channels rather than taking them all? Even if they couldn't that would be a very strange stipulation to have on a contract.

Nope Sky will not allow it. They own all the channels so it makes no sense. They are losing customers because of it. I would love the Sky Sports F1 channel nut no way am I paying for all that other rubbish I have zero interest in so not happening. Just in the last week or two even if you look over this thread you will see they have lost customers which makes no sense at all.
They are basically shooting themselves in the foot.

Inquitus · 06-04-2021 1:26pm

AMKC wrote: »

Nope Sky will not allow it. They own all the channels so it makes no sense. They are losing customers because of it. I would love the Sky Sports F1 channel nut no way am I paying for all that other rubbish I have zero interest in so not happening. Just in the last week or two even if you look over this thread you will see they have lost customers which makes no sense at all.
They are basically shooting themselves in the foot.

Aye big time, I cancelled my Sky Sports when BT Sport came out, it massively devalued the Sky Sports package as everything is now split across the 2 companies and buying both is too expensive. F1 and Rugby would be my main sporting interests, the Champions Cup is split across the 2, I just stream now, plenty of HD Streams available for F1 and Rugby.

lertsnim · 06-04-2021 2:57pm

AMKC wrote: »

Nope Sky will not allow it.

They certainly did for UK customers until recently so.

barryribs · 07-04-2021 12:20pm

Before I got wise, I used NOW TV for F1 and sports . So for anyone thats gotten rid of sky, promocode NOWSMMMAST23 will give you all sky sports for 30 EUR for 2 months.

afatbollix · 09-04-2021 4:03pm

You can get the individual channels in the UK.

£18 a month for F1 or £22 for all the sports channels.

All Bernie cared about was getting the highest amount per race.

There was word about lowering the price for a public channel to take it as the teams are complaining about viewers for sponsors but Covid has put that to bed. Liberty is over a billion in the red after the past year.

joujoujou · 10-04-2021 9:23am

Eleven Sports is another option to consider.

110 Euro a year (VPN set to Portugal would probably be necessary).

Quite nice set of things over there:

recyclebin · 10-04-2021 6:20pm

There is a thread over in Bargain Alerts with a few other options too. VPN needed though.

SlicedBread19 · 23-04-2021 12:11pm

Same story for me, my wife rang up today to cancel my Sky Cinema subscription and they just casually dropped in the fact that my F1 package would be switched off soon. I’ve had it for 7-8 years. The only option they could offer was to subscribe to Sky Sports which would be I think it was 9.99 for 6 months and then go up to full price, but it was on a minimum 12 month contract and would re-start my whole package on a 12 month contract. F1 is the only sport I watch so I have 0 interest in paying for all the other channels that I’ll never use so I guess it’s “alternative options” for me from here on out.

I only upgraded to Q in November and had to argue pretty hard to keep my package with the F1 channel, so I still have 6 months left on my contract, will enquire if this gives me the right to cancel but I’m sure they’ll have that sewn up pretty tight.

Noxegon · 30-04-2021 8:50pm

I had this debate with someone I know who works for Sky a while back.

Apparently their internal data indicates that most F1 fans (excluding the vocal minority here!) will pay for a full sports package if they can't get the F1 on its own – and Sky feels that they'll make more money by bundling.

Personally I'm holding out for the F1TV service being available here.

v10 · 30-04-2021 9:03pm

Noxegon wrote: »

I had this debate with someone I know who works for Sky a while back.

Apparently their internal data indicates that most F1 fans (excluding the vocal minority here!) will pay for a full sports package if they can't get the F1 on its own – and Sky feels that they'll make more money by bundling.

Most F1 fans are probably fans of other sports too and don’t mind paying for the other channels. But there are plenty like myself who’ve no interest in any other sports channels and can’t justify paying so much for just F1.

Noxegon wrote: »

Personally I'm holding out for the F1TV service being available here.

No need to hold out, it’s easy enough to get here, I’ve been using it here for the last few weeks without any issue. I’m watching on an Apple TV and it’s great.

h3000 · 30-04-2021 9:13pm

I got a call from them today but ignored it as I didn’t have time to argue (not that it would help). It looks like I’ll be cancelling the whole subscription though as I don’t really watch much else on SKY.

Noxegon · 30-04-2021 9:48pm

v10 wrote: »

No need to hold out, it’s easy enough to get here, I’ve been using it here for the last few weeks without any issue. I’m watching on an Apple TV and it’s great.

Do you need to VPN?

chicorytip · 30-04-2021 11:59pm

If you own a smartphone and smart TV you can download the Sky Sports Mobile TV app and "cast" the content from your phone onto your big screen. It costs €13.99 per month and you get the full package including F1. It's reliable too with very few breakdowns or interruptions and makes sense if you have only one particular sporting interest like motor racing rather than purchasing a full subscription. They are also providing full live Indycar coverage.

v10 · 01-05-2021 12:28am

Noxegon wrote: »

Do you need to VPN?

Only to sign up

recyclebin · 02-05-2021 11:57am

Which country did you use to sign up for F1 TV Pro? Poland is €50. Is that the cheapest?

joujoujou · 03-05-2021 10:46am

recyclebin wrote: »

[...] Is that the cheapest?

Yup.

recyclebin · 03-05-2021 3:43pm

joujoujou wrote: »

Yup.

Do they need a payment card registered to that country? Or are there any other limitations or catches?

eviltimeban · 10-05-2021 9:30am

I just discovered this weekend that my Sky F1 HD channel is no longer available. I signed up for it when it left the BBC and now I'm on the legacy entitlement.

However, I only have the channel in normal definition, which is terrible - you can't even read some of the onscreen text.

I do have HD on Sky Go, so I ended up watching the race on my laptop.

Is anyone else the same, i.e. no HD but you have the regular channel? Should I have HD?

MadYaker · 10-05-2021 9:43pm

recyclebin wrote: »

Which country did you use to sign up for F1 TV Pro? Poland is €50. Is that the cheapest?

I just remembered I moved to Poland this morning. I’ll give this a try it’s definitely better than paying NowTV a tenner per race.

SlicedBread19 · 23-05-2021 1:46pm

eviltimeban wrote: »

I just discovered this weekend that my Sky F1 HD channel is no longer available. I signed up for it when it left the BBC and now I'm on the legacy entitlement.

However, I only have the channel in normal definition, which is terrible - you can't even read some of the onscreen text.

I do have HD on Sky Go, so I ended up watching the race on my laptop.

Is anyone else the same, i.e. no HD but you have the regular channel? Should I have HD?

I still have HD and I’m still on the legacy entitlement.

Popple3 · 26-05-2021 5:43pm

So, I’ve been switched to the Signature package, I’m getting channels now that I didn’t get before, like Eurosport, and my bill has gone down as a result but I still have Sky Sports F1.

Legacy F1 entitlement with Sky discontinued

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