Followers of Method 1 in India have, for a few years now, been capable of watch F1 races reside on Star Sports activities, and even stream them on the Hotstar app lately. Nonetheless, 2023 brings a major shake-up on this system, with Star (and Disney+ Hotstar) selecting to not renew broadcast and streaming rights for F1 in India, following a distinction in perceived valuation of the property. Because of this followers of F1 in India now have just one official possibility to observe F1 races reside – the F1 TV app with the Professional subscription.
Though the F1 TV app has been round for some time, and has offered international entry to F1 races and different content material, the subscription service was not made accessible in India until just lately. The F1 TV Professional subscription was launched in India in February at a beginning value of Rs. 2,999 for one yr, though it’s now accessible for Rs. 2,499 per yr or Rs. 299 monthly.
That is significantly dearer than Disney+ Hotstar, which is priced at Rs. 1,499 per yr for the Premium plan and gives way more content material than simply F1. So, the F1 TV Professional subscription is undoubtedly an costly providing for Indian F1 followers. Nonetheless, the app guarantees much more when it comes to options and content material past simply reside streaming the F1 races. Here is all the pieces you might want to know in regards to the F1 TV app and the F1 TV Professional subscription.
F1 TV Professional and Entry subscription plans
As talked about, the F1 TV Professional subscription is at the moment priced at Rs. 2,499 per yr, or Rs. 299 monthly, in India. Naturally, the annual plan gives higher worth for followers, who will achieve entry to the complete 2023 season of F1 at a single value. Whereas the worth reveals otherwise on sure platforms, I’ve discovered that costs are reflecting in Indian Rupees on each iOS and Android, so that you may wish to use your smartphone to enroll in the subscription.
The ‘Professional’ subscription gives entry to reside stream all periods of F1 races, together with the observe and qualifying periods, together with reside on-board cameras and crew radio for all twenty drivers in every race. You can too reside stream help sequence races from F2, F3, and the Porsche Supercup, which occur alongside F1 on choose race weekends.
As well as, you may also view race replays and highlights for F1 and help sequence, and watch reveals, documentaries, and archives. Stay timings and knowledge are additionally accessible, together with real-time telemetry, driver maps, and tyre utilization historical past.
Other than the Professional subscription, there may be additionally a extra reasonably priced ‘Entry’ subscription on supply, priced at Rs. 1,629 per yr, or Rs. 239 monthly. This plan doesn’t allow you to reside stream F1 and help sequence races, providing restricted content material resembling replays, documentaries, and archives, in addition to reside race timings and knowledge. Given the shortage of alternate options to reside stream races, I would not advocate this plan in any respect; it is value spending a bit extra and getting the ‘Professional’ subscription.
F1 TV: Platforms supported
The F1 TV app is out there on many various platforms, together with smartphones and tablets, in addition to good TVs, streaming units, and internet browsers. The app is out there for iOS and tvOS by way of the App Retailer, Android and Android TV units by way of the Google Play Retailer, Amazon app retailer for Fireplace TV, Roku, and Chromecast platforms. The app itself is free to obtain, however requires a paid subscription to entry most options and content material.
As soon as you have subscribed, you’ll be able to log in and entry the subscription from all of your units the place you have got your account logged in. F1 TV states that the reside stream will be accessed on just one gadget at a time, though the app itself will be accessed on as much as six units concurrently to allow you to view timings and knowledge together with the reside stream. Nonetheless, I’ve been capable of entry the reside stream on a number of units concurrently, so customers may have the ability to benefit from this ‘loophole’ for now.
F1 TV: Streaming options and content material
The important thing draw of F1 TV is reside streaming of the Method 1 races, together with observe and qualifying periods throughout race weekends, in addition to pre-race and post-race reveals. All races for the season can be accessible to observe on the service. Viewers may also have the ability to tune in to press conferences and grid walks produced and offered by F1 for the F1 TV app.
Moreover, any help sequence races happening alongside F1 races on explicit weekends may also be accessible to observe reside on the F1 TV app with the Professional subscription. Notably, this consists of entry to the Method 2 championship, the principle help sequence for F1. For the 2023 Method 2 season, there are two Indian drivers on the grid – Jehan Daruvala is driving for 2022 F2 Constructor’s champions MP Motorsport, whereas Kush Maini competes in his rookie season in F2 for Campos Racing. This could seemingly pique the curiosity of Indian motorsports followers.
F1 TV has its personal presenter crew, which notably options long-time F1 analyst Will Buxton, together with Laura Winter, Lawrence Baretto, and Rosanna Tennant. Followers of Method 1: Drive to Survive will instantly recognise Buxton, who has appeared prominently within the present.
The commentary crew options Alex Jacques, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, James Hinchcliffe, and skilled contributions from former driver David Coulthard. Importantly, followers can change the protection and commentary for Method 1 races by way of the app itself and decide to tune into Sky Sports activities F1’s worldwide protection, led by David Croft and Martin Brundle. For many who beforehand watched F1 on Star Sports activities or Hotstar, this may really feel much more acquainted.
A giant extra function is the flexibility to change to knowledge and telemetry together with tyre use per driver, interactive maps with the place of every driver on the circuit, and particular person helmet or automotive cameras for every of the 20 drivers in each race. The latter views additionally present unfiltered entry to the motive force radio, letting viewers tune in to reside conversations between F1 drivers and their race engineers on the pit wall. Usefully, you should use a multi-device setup to have the ability to have a few of these screens and views operating concurrently alongside the common broadcast for a extra immersive and interactive viewing expertise.
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