British fans who want to know what sort of free-to-air coverage they will receive next year need look no further than Italy, as it is revealed that only the home Grand Prix at Monza will be available fee-to-air this year.

While Formula One Management has proudly proclaims new deals in Germany, Spain and Latin America, little has been forthcoming about the news that fans in Italy - home of Ferrari, arguably the most popular team on the grid - will have almost no access to live free coverage this year.

Much like the situation in Britain, where both the BBC and Channel 4 found themselves losing out to Sky's pay-per-view deal with FOM, in Italy, RAI, which for many years was the main provider of (free) F1 coverage has been losing out to Sky Italia.

As recently as last year, RAI had a deal similar to that of Channel 4 in the UK, whereby it broadcast a number (9) of races live with the remainder being shown in a highlights format.

However, with Liberty rejecting the latest offer from RAI, the Italian broadcaster will have the right only to broadcast the Italian Grand Prix live this year.

In 2019, Sky becomes the sole broadcaster of live F1 coverage in Britain, with details of what will be available free-to-air still to be agreed.

Ironically, after years in the F1 wilderness, France, which returns to the F1 calendar this year, will see four race available live on free-to-air, the home event, Monaco and two others.

As Liberty continues to work on its various TV deals, it's clear that the company is keen to bring its own streaming service into effect as soon as possible, though this will do little to ease the frustration of those unable and unwilling to pay for live coverage.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by FZRNiko, 19/02/2018 10:30

"It'll change if income is reduced."

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2. Posted by sagosac, 22/01/2018 19:54

"I am tired -- I am just tired"

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3. Posted by mickl, 22/01/2018 19:29

"can't you all see, if the fans have to pay more to watch F1 they would all be much more 'engaged' with the sport.........."

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4. Posted by Jezzer, 21/01/2018 13:34

"Just cancelled my sky subscription.....I didn’t have have sports package anyway. No way I was going to give sky anymore of my hard earned and no way am I going to feather Libertys nest to watch the current rubbish. This is coming from a fan who has loved F1 since 1967, yep a 50 love affair at an end and I feel sick at the thought of where the lunatics of the liberty asylum are taking F1. "

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5. Posted by george, 20/01/2018 12:50

"Doesn't matter to me, F1 is more boring to watch than the National Military Parades on National days.
Next to FE, F1 is nothing compared to Motorgp , I don't like motorbikes but they do race. F1 can only attract for 2 laps, and as an over the counter sleeping medicine.
It's not on tv in japan either, not for years, nobody is asking for it to be brought back.
Liberty Media will destroy F1, the only chance to save it is a Ferrari break away, as it means instant dead for the remaining ruins of F1 and , depending on the teams following Ferrari, the series will have a chance. The problem for it to work is the doubtful intelligence of management at both Ferrari and Ferrari F1. With a ceo who has already destroyed Lancia, is now doing the same to the Maserati brand and the Alfa brand, I don't think things look good. His only stroke of genius was to buy Chrysler, in particular the jeep brand. "

Italy's free-to-air F1 coverage decimated

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