Like many Formula 1 fans, I was looking forward - at long last - to live streaming my favourite sport, just like many do with MotoGP and other niche pastimes that offer such a service, but alas the first two days of this roll-out have been problem packed.
On the first day I managed to get an intermittent signal on a 400 Mbs (delivering around 360Mbs) wired with an ethernet cable to my PC, plus a second of three allowed installations on my iPad which hooks up to our router via Wi-F1.
Not that on both these platforms I have Netflix, Amazon Video and all the usual social media video such as YouTube and Facebook streaming quite comfortably at the very highest resolution. In other words, never had issues streaming.
But neither setup delivered an image throughout the two hours or so of Saturday FP3 and quali. Despite several refreshes, the stream never got going and the screen was simply black with a Pirelli tyre rotating over the work: 'Initialising' that never initialised.
When FP3 and Quali ended on the day the recorded version of the session was available to re-view a few minutes later, suggesting the streaming issues are with the live feed. The archive videos and recent sessions were all viewable after the fact.
Add to that that at one point I was blocked from viewing because I had apparently exceeded the three devices allowed per user, problem is I had only used one device to that point.
Sent a message to detailing the problem via the chat button and within minutes an email from the support desk, written by a human not automated, responded and told me to refresh the browser which I did and clearly they flicked a switch or whatever and it was sorted. Kudos to them for the speed of response and resolving the issue.
On day one I figured teething problems were acceptable, on day two I was expecting an improvement, but this did not happen.
And indeed I am not alone in my frustration and disappointment because the following was distributed to F1 TV to subscribers:
Hello,
Thanks for recently subscribing to F1 TV Pro.
As you may know, we have experienced some live play-back issues during our coverage of practice and qualifying from the Spanish Grand Prix.
We want to apologise for the inconvenience caused and we’re working as quickly as we can to get these resolved for you. Unfortunately, we do anticipate that the problems experienced during qualifying will not be resolved in time for the race.
Whilst we are experiencing some issues with the live video, you can still enjoy replays for all sessions including all on board cameras and unedited team radio, as well as Grands Prix from F1’s historic archive.
Because of the problems you’ve been experiencing, we will be refunding you the equivalent of two weeks of your subscription. This will happen next week and it will be paid onto the card you subscribed with so there’s nothing you need to do.
With this refund, the Grand Prix this weekend is on us.
Thanks for your patience and support.
The team at F1
Liberty Media must be applauded the F1 TV initiative, I personally see huge potential for F1 live streaming, with useful add-ons and a myriad of interesting spin-offs for fans to maximise the live viewing experience.
But at the same time, teething problems like this only tarnish the image of the product and surely severely deter early subscribers. I for one advise my mates to hang on before they pay the money, when it is ready, tried and tested, then make the purchase.
In other words, folks it is a cool product but it ain't ready!
Tata Communications and the crew that are delivering the service have some answering to do because they have failed Formula 1, Liberty Media and of course the fans - they now need to get their act together very fast.
Finally, a shout out to the support crew handling tons of disgruntled fans, an unenviable task carried out by the blameless for the real culprits.
Feel free to share your F1 TV experiences good and bad...
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