F1 has revealed that only one of the two Grands Prix being held at Silverstone this year will be shown live, free-to-air in the UK, despite both events being held behind closed doors.

"F1 has existing contracts in place for broadcast and it is right we honour those commitments with our long-term partners," said F1 on its official website.

"Silverstone will host two events, with one of those events available live as Free-to-air (FTA) within the UK. Each market situation is different and has comprehensive highlight packages to complement the live broadcast of the races."

The news will come as a blow to race fans in the UK who do not have access to Sky, the subscription broadcaster that carries all the races live.

Though Channel 4 will show one of the two events at Silverstone - the British Grand Prix and 70th Anniversary Grand Prix - live, the other will be highlights only.

With Channel 4's contract being for the British Grand Prix, it is to be expected that it is the second race to which free-to-air viewers will not have live access.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by DRAGON F1, 17/06/2020 7:50

"What are Sky Sports F1's subscribers numbers for 2019?

I suspect they are up from 2018??

In my opinion, F1 needs a serious competing racing series which is FTA!! "

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2. Posted by trackrecords, 12/06/2020 12:31

"If Lewis wins the none fee-to-air, then will Sky do as they did last year and "nobble" the post race coverage of him celebrating, not that there'll be a any crowd-surfing this year... Interesting to see that the revamped BT TV now allows subscription services to be turned on and off. I assume that Sky F1 hasn't issued 4 months of refunds to subscribers (he said knowingly)...
"

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3. Posted by Lapps, 03/06/2020 10:26

"Thanks Ed!
Didn’t really think you got it wrong. Much more likely it was one of those ‘talk fast and they won’t notice’ Press Releases Chase and Co specialise in. "

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4. Posted by Editor, 03/06/2020 7:11

"@ Lapps

I can assure you, the article is not "wrong"

Over to you Chase..."

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5. Posted by Lapps, 03/06/2020 7:06

"The supposed logic for only one race being free-to-air does not make sense. Both Sky and Channel 4 have a contract for the ‘British Grand Prix’. So that is free to air on 4. No broadcaster has a contract for the second race, so if that is only on Sky they (Sky) are being given a freebie.
Either the article is wrong, or Chase has some explaining to do!"

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6. Posted by TokyoAussie, 03/06/2020 3:37

"I don't live in the UK, so I won't comment on the TV broadcast situation within the UK. But I am wholly opposed to there being 2 races, on back-to-back weekends of all things, at the same circuit."

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7. Posted by Oldgit, 02/06/2020 17:30

"Will the 70th Anniversary race count towards the championship? If so then it should be classed as a British GP and come under the free-to-air agreement, unless the f'ing accountants/lawyers have put their oars in.

Anyway if it is highlights-only then it will be a good chance to see how much the viewing figures tank compared to a live race."

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Only one Silverstone race to be shown free-to-air in the UK

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