Followers of Formulation 1 in India have, for a few years now, been in a position to watch F1 races reside on Star Sports activities, and even stream them on the Hotstar app lately. Nevertheless, 2023 brings a big 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. Which means that followers of F1 in India now have just one official choice 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 supplied international entry to F1 races and different content material, the subscription service was not made out there in India until not too long ago. The F1 TV Professional subscription was launched in India in February at a beginning worth of Rs. 2,999 for one yr, though it’s now out there for Rs. 2,499 per yr or Rs. 299 per thirty days.
That is significantly dearer than Disney+ Hotstar, which is priced at Rs. 1,499 per yr for the Premium plan and presents rather more content material than simply F1. So, the F1 TV Professional subscription is undoubtedly an costly providing for Indian F1 followers. Nevertheless, 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 that you must know concerning 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 presently priced at Rs. 2,499 per yr, or Rs. 299 per thirty days, in India. Naturally, the annual plan presents higher worth for followers, who will acquire entry to the whole 2023 season of F1 at a single worth. Whereas the value reveals otherwise on sure platforms, I’ve discovered that costs are reflecting in Indian Rupees on each iOS and Android, so that you would possibly wish to use your smartphone to join the subscription.
The ‘Professional’ subscription gives entry to reside stream all classes of F1 races, together with the follow and qualifying classes, together with reside on-board cameras and staff radio for all twenty drivers in every race. It’s also possible to reside stream help sequence races from F2, F3, and the Porsche Supercup, which occur alongside F1 on choose race weekends.
As well as, you too can view race replays and highlights for F1 and help sequence, and watch reveals, documentaries, and archives. Dwell timings and information are additionally out there, together with real-time telemetry, driver maps, and tyre utilization historical past.
Aside from 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 per thirty days. This plan doesn’t allow you to reside stream F1 and help sequence races, providing restricted content material akin to replays, documentaries, and archives, in addition to reside race timings and information. Given the dearth of options to reside stream races, I would not suggest this plan in any respect; it is price spending a bit extra and getting the ‘Professional’ subscription.
F1 TV: Platforms supported
The F1 TV app is offered on many various platforms, together with smartphones and tablets, in addition to sensible TVs, streaming gadgets, and internet browsers. The app is offered for iOS and tvOS via the App Retailer, Android and Android TV gadgets via the Google Play Retailer, Amazon app retailer for Hearth 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’ve got subscribed, you’ll be able to log in and entry the subscription from all of your gadgets the place you may have your account logged in. F1 TV states that the reside stream may be accessed on just one gadget at a time, though the app itself may be accessed on as much as six gadgets concurrently to allow you to view timings and information together with the reside stream. Nevertheless, I’ve been in a position to entry the reside stream on a number of gadgets concurrently, so customers would possibly be capable of 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 Formulation 1 races, together with follow and qualifying classes throughout race weekends, in addition to pre-race and post-race reveals. All races for the season might be out there to observe on the service. Viewers can even be capable of tune in to press conferences and grid walks produced and offered by F1 for the F1 TV app.
Moreover, any help sequence races going down alongside F1 races on explicit weekends can even be out there to observe reside on the F1 TV app with the Professional subscription. Notably, this consists of entry to the Formulation 2 championship, the primary help sequence for F1. For the 2023 Formulation 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 possible pique the curiosity of Indian motorsports followers.
F1 TV has its personal presenter staff, which notably options long-time F1 analyst Will Buxton, together with Laura Winter, Lawrence Baretto, and Rosanna Tennant. Followers of Formulation 1: Drive to Survive will instantly recognise Buxton, who has appeared prominently within the present.
The commentary staff options Alex Jacques, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, James Hinchcliffe, and skilled contributions from former driver David Coulthard. Importantly, followers can swap the protection and commentary for Formulation 1 races via the app itself and choose to tune into Sky Sports activities F1’s worldwide protection, led by David Croft and Martin Brundle. For individuals who beforehand watched F1 on Star Sports activities or Hotstar, this may really feel much more acquainted.
A giant extra characteristic is the flexibility to modify to information 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 driving force radio, letting viewers tune in to reside conversations between F1 drivers and their race engineers on the pit wall. Usefully, you should utilize a multi-device setup to have the ability to have a few of these screens and views working concurrently alongside the common broadcast for a extra immersive and interactive viewing expertise.
