Georgie Thompson: 'Sky is offering F1 fans something new' - video
Published May 3 2012, 13:49 BST | By Alex Fletcher and Tom Mansell
Sky Sports presenter Georgie Thompson has defended Sky's coverage of Formula 1 and downplayed a rivalry between Sky and the BBC when it comes to broadcasting the sport.Sky and the BBC have shared F1 rights for the first time ever this year and Thompson said that Sky's approach to the sport and dedicated F1 channel mean that racing fans are getting something they have never been able to see elsewhere.
Watch Georgie Thompson talking at the Carphone Warehouse Appys about Sky's F1 coverage below:
"Beforehand there was a lot of negativity and it wasn't really very well founded. We needed to get on air to show what we were about and what we brought to the party," Thompson told Digital Spy.
"There has never been a dedicated Formula 1 channel before now. And there is a market for us and the BBC. Some will watch one, some will watch the other. There may be some that watch both.
"There is a large enough market for us both to exist within it."
> Formula One on Sky has raised the BBC's game, says Jake Humphrey
Speaking about the differences in style, she said: "I present a show on Fridays called the F1 Show and that's something totally different. It previews and reviews the weekend and has a laidback magazine feel to it.
"You wouldn't get that on any other platform. We're offering something a little bit more of what you already have."
I believe that not everything should be free, why should john doe on the dole be able to get the same sport or the same anything else from that matter as a family who all work or attend uni, simple answer he shouldn't, SKY is a perfect example so needing to do more so you can have it
May 10th 2012 at 10:37am(+1 like)
Excuse me??? I'm not on the dole, and my husband works damned hard to support me and our two children. We can't afford SKY, because we have more important things like day to day living to pay for! Get a reality check, Thomas, live in the real world. Just because people work, it doesn't mean they should HAVE to get SKY to watch F1!
July 14th 2012 at 6:29pm
Thomas Smith I haven't seen the Sky coverage but comments here suggest that apart from higher 'bitrate' (whatever that means) that maybe it isn't any better and in fact worse. I can see the logic in charging for football, but not F1, which has always been free to air. Football has on and off the TV over the years but not F1. Its all about opinions though, if you believe in 'privilege' thats up to you, for me thats a pretty skewed world view.
May 10th 2012 at 10:31am(+1 like)
Nick Williams Why should it be available to everyone though? i agree highlights should be readily available but if Pay TV services can offer better coverage they should be able to, my example being ITV do really poor coverage of football and a much prefer my football on sky with a highlights package on itv instead
May 10th 2012 at 10:22am(+1 like)
well Thomas I think you are wrong, it is not a privilege, it should be available to everybody, emjoy the race this weekend anyway, I will, on the BBC where it should be all the time!
May 10th 2012 at 10:14am
Nick Williams As i said on another post: ''Its a privilege not a right, people who can't afford should except that and move on, do you complain whenever you see somebody drive past in an amazing car?'' Not to mention highlights are shown on free TV for most sports
May 10th 2012 at 9:39am