Fans of Formula 1 in India have, for a few years now, been in a position to watch F1 races stay on Star Sports, and even stream them on the Hotstar app in current years. However, 2023 brings a big shake-up in this technique, 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. This signifies that followers of F1 in India now have just one official possibility to observe F1 races stay – the F1 TV app with the Pro subscription.
Although 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 obtainable in India until just lately. The F1 TV Pro subscription was launched in India in February at a beginning worth 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.
This is significantly costlier than Disney+ Hotstar, which is priced at Rs. 1,499 per 12 months for the Premium plan and presents way more content material than simply F1. So, the F1 TV Pro subscription is undoubtedly an costly providing for Indian F1 followers. However, the app guarantees much more in phrases of options and content material past simply stay streaming the F1 races. Here’s every little thing it’s essential to know in regards to the F1 TV app and the F1 TV Pro subscription.
F1 TV Pro and Access subscription plans
As talked about, the F1 TV Pro 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 presents higher worth for followers, who will achieve entry to the whole 2023 season of F1 at a single worth. While the value exhibits in a different way on sure platforms, I’ve discovered that costs are reflecting in Indian Rupees on each iOS and Android, so that you may wish to use your smartphone to join the subscription.
The ‘Pro’ subscription supplies entry to stay stream all classes of F1 races, together with the observe and qualifying classes, together with stay on-board cameras and workforce radio for all twenty drivers in every race. You may also stay stream assist collection races from F2, F3, and the Porsche Supercup, which happen alongside F1 on choose race weekends.
In addition, you can even view race replays and highlights for F1 and assist collection, and watch exhibits, documentaries, and archives. Live timings and knowledge are additionally obtainable, together with real-time telemetry, driver maps, and tyre utilization historical past.
Apart from the Pro subscription, there may be additionally a extra reasonably priced ‘Access’ subscription on supply, priced at Rs. 1,629 per 12 months, or Rs. 239 per 30 days. This plan doesn’t allow you to stay stream F1 and assist collection races, providing restricted content material equivalent to replays, documentaries, and archives, in addition to stay race timings and knowledge. Given the shortage of alternate options to stay stream races, I would not advocate this plan in any respect; it is value spending a bit extra and getting the ‘Pro’ 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 units, and net browsers. The app is on the market for iOS and tvOS by way of the App Store, Android and Android TV units by way of the Google Play Store, Amazon app retailer for Fire TV, Roku, and Chromecast platforms. The app itself is free to obtain, however requires a paid subscription to entry most options and content material.
Once you have subscribed, you may log in and entry the subscription from all of your units the place you have got your account logged in. F1 TV states that the stay stream might be accessed on just one gadget at a time, though the app itself might be accessed on as much as six units concurrently to allow you to view timings and knowledge together with the stay stream. However, I’ve been in a position to entry the stay stream on a number of units concurrently, so customers may be capable of make the most of this ‘loophole’ for now.
F1 TV: Streaming options and content material
The key draw of F1 TV is stay streaming of the Formula 1 races, together with observe and qualifying classes throughout race weekends, in addition to pre-race and post-race exhibits. All races for the season will probably be obtainable to observe on the service. Viewers may even be capable of tune in to press conferences and grid walks produced and introduced by F1 for the F1 TV app.
Additionally, any assist collection races happening alongside F1 races on specific weekends may even be obtainable to observe stay on the F1 TV app with the Pro subscription. Notably, this contains entry to the Formula 2 championship, the principle assist collection for F1. For the 2023 Formula 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 ought to 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. Fans of Formula 1: Drive to Survive will instantly recognise Buxton, who has appeared prominently in the present.
The commentary workforce options Alex Jacques, former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, James Hinchcliffe, and knowledgeable contributions from former driver David Coulthard. Importantly, followers can change the protection and commentary for Formula 1 races by way of the app itself and choose to tune into Sky Sports F1’s worldwide protection, led by David Croft and Martin Brundle. For those that beforehand watched F1 on Star Sports or Hotstar, this may really feel much more acquainted.
An enormous extra characteristic is the flexibility to modify to knowledge 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 stay conversations between F1 drivers and their race engineers on the pit wall. Usefully, you should use 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.
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