f1tv.formula1.com
Ultimately, it's up to the user to decide which service they think is most suitable for them.
With so many streaming services out there, it can sometimes feel overwhelming when deciding on one. Each one comes with a different monthly price tag and each individual streaming service has its own very specific niche. There is no such thing as the perfect streaming service. Some have excellent content, but subpar design; others offer an incredible user experience, but the content is relatively limited. Ultimately, it's up to the user to decide which service they think is most suitable for them.
Don't make any streaming service commitment until you've shopped around and tried out the various options. Many of the plans associated with streaming services come with one-year commitments, which can be a lot more trouble than they're worth if you don't end up liking the service. In fact, not every streaming service even offers a free trial period - so how is someone supposed to figure out if a certain service is right for them?
There are a few things you're going to have to figure out before you can confidently choose one streaming service. It can be incredibly helpful to ask yourself a few important questions. First, what kind of content do you value above all else? For instance, if you're a huge sports fan, you'll decide whether you care more about one particular sport, or if you want more general streaming capabilities of multiple sports.
In addition to figuring out your priorities, it's also important to consider how much storage space and bandwidth you have available. Each streaming service has its own recommended settings - so it's important to pay attention! - and knowing how much data each one uses can really save you money in the long run. And finally, don't forget: make sure your device is compatible with each streaming service!
If you're into combat sports, for instance, you might be better off with UFC TV or Fite TV; however, if you just want a lot of coverage of numerous sports, maybe ESPN Plus will be better for you. At the end of the day, it's all about making sure that a streaming service meets your unique needs. And from there you can figure out which services have the layout and content that will best cater to your needs.
If you're reading this particular review, chances are you've kind of gone through this process enough to narrow your decision down to the basics: you want to be able to watch as much Formula 1 racing as possible. And I can understand why - few things in this world are better than sitting down with a few cold beers and watching the race. And there's some great news for Formula 1 fans like you and me? The Formula 1 streaming service is top-tier - offering tons of content, great design, immersive features, and everything else you could ever want from a premium streaming service. So, what are we waiting for? Let's dive right in and check out F1 TV!
History
Prior to the launch of F1 TV, Formula 1 featured a different digital broadcast service, known as F1 Digital Plus. Digital Plus was originally intended to broadcast exclusively to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. However, other countries began requesting access to the service in droves. The French broadcaster Canal Plus signed up for the service later in 1996, with a contract lasting 10 years (estimated to cost $60 million per year).
The original Formula 1 digital media service continued to grow in 1997 when Italian broadcaster Tele Plus launched its F1 Digital Plus service. In 1998, Spain and England followed suit with their own versions of the service. F1 Digital Plus received an initial investment of $35 million, but over $100 million went into the service before it shut down in 2002. Digital Plus does not get talked about nearly enough when it comes to companies who pioneered digital sports media, in my opinion.
Despite being a commercial failure, Digital Plus had many new and innovative technologies that have persisted throughout the years, such as dashcams and overall cinematic production qualities. This laid down the groundwork for where Formula 1 TV would pick up and continue driving digital racing content further.
Design
The design of Formula 1 TV feels more like a video game than it does a streaming service. I mean that in the sense that the design of this service is one of the most immersive and dynamic of any streaming service I have ever seen, let alone a sports streaming service. Several on-screen menus allow you to easily and quickly switch between cameras, check stats and timings, or even listen in on live team radio calls. Check-in on the pit whenever you so desire, switch from there to your driver's own dashcam for a first-person fast-paced viewing experience. Few sports streaming services give the viewer this much control over the ways he can enjoy the content.
The archives and libraries are easy to navigate and exceedingly user-friendly. Simply browse by year and then sit back and click or scroll through a very intuitive layout of different videos, highlights, and full past races. Formula 1 TV truly puts you in control.
Content
Now that we've talked about what F1 TV has to offer, let's take a look at some of its features. As I said earlier, the service offers an extensive archive of past races, Grand Prix, and other Formula 1 content. Additionally, users have full and unlimited access to an enormous library of historic races. You can watch some of the most classic races ever on F1 TV. But beyond just watching races, F1 TV also offers exclusive content that only its users can access. Love exclusive content? You're going to love F1 TV!
Plus, of course, enjoy every live F1 race as it happens. And again, this is where the service really sets itself apart - you can watch the race from just about every angle and viewpoint imaginable! Join your favorite drivers in the car for their point of view, check-in on the pit, or view the race in the standard broadcast. The choice is yours. And if you can't make a certain race, no worries - you can check in with highlights and replays any time.
Desktop and Mobile Experience
Although smartphones are not going to be the best option when it comes to a premium live sports streaming service, F1 TV turns out to be another case where this is the case. You're just not going to get the same level of immersion and dynamic viewing on a cellphone screen as you will on your smart tv or even desktop computer. So, although the app may be best reserved for highlights, quick videos, and stats, it appears as if other people seem to agree with that assessment - F1 TV's app has an average rating of 3.4 stars on the Apple App Store.
However, when it comes to the experience that you'll get from the desktop site or on your smart TV, it truly is unparalleled. There are honestly no other sports streaming services like it on the market.
Pricing and Plans
Considering everything that F1 TV has to offer, I would say that the service is incredibly affordable. The F1 TV Access option only allows users to view replays, highlights, and archived races (no live broadcasts). This option will run you either $2.99 per month or $26.99 a year.
Then, there is the full and unrestricted version of F1 TV Pro, which unlocks the entirety of everything that F1 TV has to offer. You can subscribe to this plan for $9.99 a month or $79.99 for the year. These prices are not bad at all - especially considering the innovative type of viewing experience this one provides.
Suggestions that I have for F1 TV
A free trial would be great. Just to let users get a feel of whether the service is right for them. Even just a week wouldn't hurt. I suppose you could always try it out by checking out the cheaper TV Access plan and only lose 3 bucks or so - but, still, I think that a free, no-risk trial option would really be the cherry on the cake for this service.
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