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 in recent times. Nevertheless, 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 choice to look at 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 world entry to F1 races and different content material, the subscription service was not made obtainable in India until lately. The F1 TV Professional subscription was launched in India in February at a beginning value of Rs. 2,999 for one 12 months, though it’s now obtainable for Rs. 2,499 per 12 months or Rs. 299 per 30 days.
That is significantly costlier than Disney+ Hotstar, which is priced at Rs. 1,499 per 12 months for the Premium plan and gives far 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 every thing it’s worthwhile to 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 at the moment priced at Rs. 2,499 per 12 months, or Rs. 299 per 30 days, in India. Naturally, the annual plan gives higher worth for followers, who will acquire entry to the whole 2023 season of F1 at a single value. Whereas the value reveals in another way on sure platforms, I’ve discovered that costs are reflecting in Indian Rupees on each iOS and Android, so that you would possibly need to use your smartphone to join the subscription.
The ‘Professional’ subscription supplies entry to reside stream all periods of F1 races, together with the observe and qualifying periods, together with reside on-board cameras and workforce radio for all twenty drivers in every race. You can even reside stream assist collection races from F2, F3, and the Porsche Supercup, which happen alongside F1 on choose race weekends.
As well as, you can even view race replays and highlights for F1 and assist collection, and watch reveals, documentaries, and archives. Dwell timings and information are additionally obtainable, together with real-time telemetry, driver maps, and tyre utilization historical past.
Other than the Professional subscription, there’s additionally a extra reasonably priced ‘Entry’ subscription on provide, priced at Rs. 1,629 per 12 months, or Rs. 239 per 30 days. This plan doesn’t allow you to reside stream F1 and assist collection races, providing restricted content material equivalent to replays, documentaries, and archives, in addition to reside race timings and information. Given the shortage of alternate options to reside stream races, I would not suggest 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 on the market on many alternative platforms, together with smartphones and tablets, in addition to good TVs, streaming gadgets, and internet browsers. The app is on the market for iOS and tvOS by means of the App Retailer, Android and Android TV gadgets by means 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 may log in and entry the subscription from all of your gadgets the place you’ve gotten your account logged in. F1 TV states that the reside stream might be accessed on just one machine at a time, though the app itself might 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 make the most of 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 observe and qualifying periods throughout race weekends, in addition to pre-race and post-race reveals. All races for the season will probably be obtainable to look at on the service. Viewers may also be capable of tune in to press conferences and grid walks produced and introduced by F1 for the F1 TV app.
Moreover, any assist collection races going down alongside F1 races on specific weekends may also be obtainable to look at reside on the F1 TV app with the Professional subscription. Notably, this consists of entry to the Formulation 2 championship, the principle assist collection 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 doubtless pique the curiosity of Indian motorsports followers.
F1 TV has its personal presenter workforce, 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 workforce 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 Formulation 1 races by means of 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, it will really feel much more acquainted.
An enormous extra function 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 automobile 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 need to 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.
