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Carey wants more

NEWS STORY
08/08/2019

At a time there is speculation over Toto Wolff succeeding Chase Carey as F1 boss, many might say that whether it's the Austrian or whoever, the American's departure cannot come soon enough.

In a call with financial analysts today, Carey outlined a grim vision for the sport, certainly as far as fans are concerned, just days after Ross Brawn, in reference to levelling the playing field, said "it's a key theme for the future of this sport and I think we are all in agreement on this, starting with the fans, whom we must listen to, because, at the end of the day, they are our most important asset".

Carey's vision is simple, he wants more, more Pay TV, more races, more money flowing into the sport's coffers.

At a time the nett viewership in the UK alone is down 3 million after the sport went almost exclusively behind a paywall, Carey admitted: "we will continue to move towards pay platforms because that is where the world is going". This despite him admitting that the global TV audience so far this year is "down a few percentage points".

Insisting that he isn't particularly bothered as the fall has been influenced by a decline in Brazil, home to the sport's biggest TV audience, in reference to the viewing figures he said: "I'd say it has been OK."

Referring to the streaming service which has suffered a litany of issues that race in, race out sees fans around the world left frustrated and disappointed and has led to the service having to issue refunds on a number of occasions, he insisted that "we have made good strides" with the reliability of the service, though he admits that it remains a "work in progress" and that it is "getting closer to our targets both in terms of content and reliability."

Readers may remember that exactly one year ago, he said virtually the same thing about it being a "work in progress", while those fans that Ross Brawn insists "we must listen to, because, at the end of the day, they are our most important asset", continue to pay full whack for a service that is still essentially in beta testing.

Referring to sponsors he admitted that "the time required to grow this area of our business has probably been a bit longer than we would have anticipated a couple of years ago", however, there was good news on another front.

"We expect to announce the 2020 calendar in the next few weeks," he said, according to Forbes, adding that, at a time the sport is bracing itself for its busiest schedule ever, featuring 22 races, "we expect the number of races over the next few years to increase a bit".

Since buying the sport in early 2017, Liberty Media has sought to expand F1 in its own backyard, and while Holland returns to the calendar and Vietnam hosts its inaugural race next year, there is still no sign of a second American event.

Insisting that talks for a second American Grand Prix are ongoing, he said: "We have talked about adding races in what we call destination cities like Las Vegas and Miami. We have been engaged for the last year there. I think we have made good headway there. We continue to and in fact I have meetings next week with parties there. I had meetings a month ago there... down the road you would love to have a US driver. That probably takes longer."

Along with another American race and an American driver, Carey also wants a "high-profile US team" - and yes, you read that right.

At a time Gene Haas must already be giving serious consideration as to whether it was worth the money and effort, his team having slumped to ninth in the standings, serious doubt over its title sponsor, and no cast-iron guarantee that the 2021 regulations are really going to level the playing field, Carey gave his fellow-American the ultimate slap in the face when he said that he hoped the planned budget cap, more equal prize money and other efforts to level the playing field, would attract new teams.

"We are talking to new team entrants, as we firm up the business model for team ownership, we have Haas as a US team, we'd love to add a high-profile US team, down the road you'd love to have a US driver, that probably takes longer."

Perhaps Peter Windsor can be persuaded to resurrect the US F1 project, with an all-American hero such as Pete Aron or Michael Delaney at the wheel, maybe even Ricky Bobby. Y'know.

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1. Posted by Dadrider, 11/08/2019 18:32

"American Liberty. Chase Carey. ESPN. Sky F1. As an North American F1 viewer for 17 + years, the changes American Liberty has made to the US viewship is Poor at best. Pathetic as the worst.

While NBCSN was good in their product, not the best, but good to very good. The informal word out is that the US is because NBC did not bow to American Liberty wishes to transition to pay per view, their contract was not renewed ESPN for who they are and the product they produce in the other sports they cover, is the bottom tier for auto racing coverage in my opinion. Their coverage of most anything motorsports for the last decade is 2nd best to their competitors.

ESPN simply rebroadcast the Sky F1 feed, the beginning of the race most times in mid sentence a minute or so in. End of race, and after the trophies, and interviews, then more often than not, the cut away to say, and that's the race. See ya next time.

I have to go to the F1 website and catch Will Buxton to get the real news that we no longer get. Wow. Will Buxton. For the US he covered the pit walk very well and it appears he has / had respect of the drivers. Never embarrassed to watch his comentary. I can't say that now. The last 2 years the US only gets SKY F1 comentary only. SKY F1 only reinforces that for this US Market viewer, that the NBCSN F1 team overall was not a bad product. Not the best, but very good, and with some minor changes, could be world class for the US viewer. Make that could have been, no longer could be.

As a viewer that pays already for access to F1 via ESPN, the product is no longer what it was. If Liberty and Chase continue unabated, what will the price tag be to watch F1 ? And do they have the infrastructure to support the fan base, not counting what fan's that have been lost world wide? And that loss is based on whose decisions, and implementations.

2 years in to your leadership and changes, Thank you American Liberty and Thank you Chase Carey for nothing. No good has come to fruition under your reign.

F1 please save your self. I only hope there is time to recover, before more fan's are gone from the sport."

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2. Posted by Anthony, 11/08/2019 16:23

"Sky’s viewing figures might improve if they got rid of the dreadful David Croft...."

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3. Posted by Paul C, 09/08/2019 19:16

"Put Alexander Rossi and another decent driver in the Hass cars. Alonso or Kimi wouldn't be a bad partner. As for the sport's management, replace Carey & company with people who have run MOTORSPORTS, not cartoons on Fox."

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4. Posted by Rock Doc, 09/08/2019 17:03

"Carey and Bratches have no business being involved with F1. They are just vultures looking for cash and don't care about the sport or the fans. It's all about extracting as much money as possible for them.

The Sooner they are gone the better."

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5. Posted by Jezzer, 09/08/2019 16:35

"Oh......and another thing @barslug. Magnussen is really not that much better than Grosjean. Get rid of both of the idiots and grab a keen young charger paired with an Alonso or Raikonen, plus new design team. "

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6. Posted by Jezzer, 09/08/2019 16:32

"Been an F1 nut since 1968 and I do have a favourite period, this period of F1 certainly isn’t one of them. There is no way EVER I would pay to watch what is being served up at the moment. Sort your life out Chase Carey, you are ruining our sport "

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7. Posted by Malemoi, 09/08/2019 7:20

"Don't know who is worse Carey or Bernie. Bernie was not stupid though"

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8. Posted by Barslug, 08/08/2019 22:24

"Can’t wait for him to be a memory. I too would like a better American F1 team. Firing Grosjean would be all it takes for me to stop rooting against Hass. Get a good driver without the attitude and stupid decision making and I bet the team would rise through the ranks. "

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9. Posted by Paul C, 08/08/2019 21:21

"Chase Carey needs a reason to leave F1 management. Does Haas have a two seater car? Put Chase in the car with the crazy kid Ferruci to scare him out of the sport. Repeat the process for his staff."

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