RTL ends F1 broadcast after 30 years

[lio007]

Sad news for german F1 fans. RTL ends F1 broadcast at the end of the 2020 season.
https://newsabc.net/f1-shock-for-german ... broadcast/

No good news in general for the sport.

Also here in Austria it's uncertain if broadcaster ORF will continue after 2020.

[MtthsMlw]

F1's future in Germany is not looking too bright. Germans don't like pay tv also no German GP, no German driver etc.

[FrukostScones]

It is just a bluff to get VET to Merc.

[lio007]

It is just a bluff to get VET to Merc.

Even if VET ends at Merc (but seems highly unlikely at the moment), I don't think RTL will change their mind.

[Just_a_fan]

Germany going the way of the UK then. F1's audiences will be single digit soon.

[f1rules]

damm that is sad news!! living in denmark with their crap coverage i turned to rtl for many many years, then niki left and now this

[hollus]

There goes my TV coverage. I'll have to find another way, then.
@f1rules: Is the danish coverage really that bad? My danish is finally good enough for this, but if the bradcast isn't...
I'll miss "optimistisch gebremst".

[nzjrs]

I'm biased but I find the austrian ORF coverage better to RTL. Wurz is fantastic. I hope it stays beyond 2020.

[Tim.Wright]

na toll...

[lio007]

Are there any non-german speaking viewers watching RTL?

[MtthsMlw]

Guess I now have to rely on F1TV solely. Often had it run parallel to RTL to cover the commercial breaks.
Also no more 4K which is annoying after you get used to it.

[ziggy]

Are there any non-german speaking viewers watching RTL?

Many. Allthough I find ORF light years better than RTL. The last 2 years ORF is blocked in my country, but I always watched F1 on ORF. Still remember Heinz Prüller but current pair of commentators is also top.

[Tzk]

Afaik many dutch viewers were watching RTL as it is free tv. I'll probably stop watching F1 then. Not gonna pay 65 bucks a year for F1TV, let alone for Sky. Sad times...

ORF is blocked in germany, so i relied on RTL till now.

[f1rules]

well it has its moments, not many, they have nicolas kiesa former minardi f1 driver who has some insight, but commentators and host is so kevin magnussen/haas biased its beyond ridicules, they still believe he is the next big thing, and will stop at nothing to defend him, which is just so annoying
rtl has the insight, access to the right people etc. danish broadcast have none of that and just tell the stories that others (sky/rtl) come up with.

There goes my TV coverage. I'll have to find another way, then.
@f1rules: Is the danish coverage really that bad? My danish is finally good enough for this, but if the bradcast isn't...
I'll miss "optimistisch gebremst".

[Scorpaguy]

F1TV is not all that bad...when it works. I think they screwed 2 races last year...gave a $5 rebate each time. But do they really think they can get away with charging full price for this year!?!?!

I will await a 50% sale...they will not squeeze me for full price for a half-arsed season. I assume many feel this way. I also wonder how many folks they loose that will never come back?