Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Blame Canada
The Canadian Grand Prix is the third most watched sporting event in the world allegedly. Behind the World Cup of Football final and the Superboll. (This is the list of single events rather than contests. As a contest the F1 series also comes third coincidentally, but then it's behind the World Cup of Football and the Olympics. There isn't a single point of focus in the olympics I guess.)
Anyway so what's my point? The point is that the reason it's so popular is that it's on in Europe in the late afternoon instead of lunchtime. I know a lot of people who only watch the Canadian Grand Prix and the American. Why is this? It's because at Sunday lunchtime you've got to be out with the kids doing stuff and going to picnics and so on. By Sunday evening what else are you going to do? And also it displaces a number of other regular shows so the wife won't be wanting to watch X Factor on the other side X Factor will be on later. [Note: Not that I have a wife or that Katherine is remotely interested in X Factor or Formula 1 for that matter]. And why does Canada shade the US? More domestic Canadians watch only their grand prix than US residents do. So either the US guys are watching everything or nothing not just the US one. And also in Europe because the Canadian Grand Prix is first and F1 is boring to some people people don't tend to tune in for the second week as much.
So what actually is my point? Well my point is this if we're considering having night races in all the Southern Hemisphere races just to get better ratings why aren't we holding all of the northern Hemisphere races in the afternoon as well? You could even have the Southern Hemisphere races properly in the middle of the night if you wanted to go crazy but I'm guessing that wouldn't work so well for ticket sales.
If all races in Europe kicked off at 5 or 6 then more Europeans would watch the races. And most importantly the races would be on at lunchtime in the states and Canada. No wonder Bernie hasn't been able to break America yet only two races a year are on in the afternoon.
Anyway so what's my point? The point is that the reason it's so popular is that it's on in Europe in the late afternoon instead of lunchtime. I know a lot of people who only watch the Canadian Grand Prix and the American. Why is this? It's because at Sunday lunchtime you've got to be out with the kids doing stuff and going to picnics and so on. By Sunday evening what else are you going to do? And also it displaces a number of other regular shows so the wife won't be wanting to watch X Factor on the other side X Factor will be on later. [Note: Not that I have a wife or that Katherine is remotely interested in X Factor or Formula 1 for that matter]. And why does Canada shade the US? More domestic Canadians watch only their grand prix than US residents do. So either the US guys are watching everything or nothing not just the US one. And also in Europe because the Canadian Grand Prix is first and F1 is boring to some people people don't tend to tune in for the second week as much.
So what actually is my point? Well my point is this if we're considering having night races in all the Southern Hemisphere races just to get better ratings why aren't we holding all of the northern Hemisphere races in the afternoon as well? You could even have the Southern Hemisphere races properly in the middle of the night if you wanted to go crazy but I'm guessing that wouldn't work so well for ticket sales.
If all races in Europe kicked off at 5 or 6 then more Europeans would watch the races. And most importantly the races would be on at lunchtime in the states and Canada. No wonder Bernie hasn't been able to break America yet only two races a year are on in the afternoon.
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Here in far east we have all European races starting at 8pm (with the TV show kicking off at 7pm) - great time to spend Sunday evening out with friends. US and Canada races are at 1 am - perfect to to watch the race in peace when everybody is asleep and house is quiet. And those races in Asia - either right there at the track (great weekends :-) ) or nice lunch time with friend in the pub ...
The problem is that for those of us interested in MotoGP (like Michael Schumacher, for instance) we have to start drinking at 12 on Sunday and continue until 9.
Of course, when I say 'problem' I really mean 'party'.
Of course, when I say 'problem' I really mean 'party'.
I suspect a reason, if not THE reason, the Canadian GP is more watched than the US GP is, on the same day US fans are treated to a closer, faster, more interesting race, one even the wives will watch ....... ever hear of NASCAR? A NASCAR race has everything we in F1 want, a large field, CLOSE racing, LEAD CHANGES, multi-car pitstops (often 30 at a time), usually a safety car session to bunch up the field (no one likes a runaway race like this past Monaco). The Canadian and US GPs are tele-cast at 1400 and 1500 Sunday here in North America.
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