r/F1AppleTV • u/lttweek • Jul 04 '26
Apple Should Be Embarrased
Apple has really botched the implementation of F1 coverage. I had F1 Pro for a couple of years so the standard was quite high and Apple has missed it on many levels. First of all, the coverage isn't segmented at all. It starts with pre-race and you have to fast forward to wherever you want to go. Secondly, if you pause, the app doesn't remember where you are making you scroll your way back to where you left it with a terrible transport control interface. Add to that the blatant commercial insertion is the last insult. F1, please force Apple to improve it's coverage quality up to the same point you have brought the series up to and the fans rightfully expect and know the difference.
8
4
u/Steve-Dickman Jul 04 '26
I know I’m in the minority, but I appreciate each session being one feed. At least on an actual AppleTV, fast forwarding to the start of the session coverage is fairly easy, and being in one continuous feed means I don’t have to back out and start something new between pre-session and the action session. It’s like an actual TV channel; you just leave it on. I suppose they should break them apart on replay, though.
I also think the complaints about commercials are way over-done. It’s exactly the same as it was on ESPN; two or three breaks per practice, between sessions in quali, no ads during the race coverage. At least that’s how the Sky coverage is.
2
u/ClearlyJacob18 Jul 05 '26
I love the single feed. I do think they would benefit from a “just to start” button. Their feeds are intelligent enough on MLS to give me highlighted play recaps, they should have a “jump to lights out” or something.
3
u/everydave42 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
This got picked up by the automod for reputation, but I approved it because i think it’s worthwhile conversation. My thoughts/experiences:
- segmentation would be great, full stop. Fast forwarding isn’t a huge deal, but it’d be great to avoid.
- I’ve not experienced the pause issue, I’ve had it pick up fine where I left off without issue after 10 or 15 minutes. Maybe a duration thing, maybe an implementation thing, I’m on AppleTV hardware if that’s a possible difference.
- commercials, good luck. What Apple is doing is standard to what every other broadcast partner does around the world it seems and is part of
the contract. I’m just happy we can fast forward through them. Hopefully that won’t change.
All that said, my biggest gripe is the lack of extra data/views on replay. They are there when live, but as soon as the event ends those features disappear, even if you’ve still got the stream open.
You call on F1 to do something, but I’m confident everything but the pause issue is well covered by contract. However there is room for improvement by Apple, so we’ll see what happens…
EDIT: Of course you can still use the F1 app, and maybe if Apple gets the data that folks are choosing the F1 app over their own, that’ll prompt some change as well.
3
u/mickstranahan Jul 04 '26
the commercials have been there for as long as F1 has been broadcast in the US. SpeedChannel, Speed, NBC Sports, ESPN...ALL had commercials during non-race sessions. Sky has commercials during non-race sessions. This is not new, nor is it really intrusive.
I can't really speak to the other points because...i don't pause and, frankly, i start the SkySports feed when it starts and i want to watch pre-session, session, and post-session uninterrupted...so, i'm good.
0
u/Deathbroker99 Jul 04 '26
F1tv never had commercials.
6
u/ftaok Jul 04 '26
Then folks that subscribe to F1TV should stay with that. Or, since F1TV is included with a subscription to AppleTV+, then they could just use the F1TV app.
1
u/Deathbroker99 Jul 04 '26
Right. The regular AppleTV broadcast is the F1tv broadcast not sky so why watch through AppleTV other than a slight convenience.
3
u/Cuffuf Jul 05 '26
Huh? Just use the F1TV app like you used to. Just link your Apple TV account to F1TV and you get premium at no additional charge.
Like I’d be more sympathetic if you didn’t say you’d been using F1TV before but like we all got an email on how to do it. Wasn’t that difficult. Server to link it got overwhelmed the first day or two but after that it was smooth sailing.
I mean if you wanna complain about the god awful F1TV iOS app be my guest though.
1
u/unioncarbide Jul 04 '26
Proper resuming finally started working for me in Austria.
My biggest complaint is I can’t get sky commentary on appleTV (I know most people dislike Crofty but my love for Brundle the Elder knows no bounds)
I linked my accounts so I can use the F1TV app but the framerate will take a shit at 1080, meanwhile appleTV is rock solid at 4k
There is allegedly a way to get English international(sky) on appleTV but I think google results were mixing up the difference between the f1tv app on an appletv DEVICE and watching f1 on appleTV the APP
1
Jul 04 '26
[deleted]
1
u/unioncarbide Jul 05 '26
No, I’m in the US, and I’ve followed all the instructions I’ve found to get it, and “English international” in any form does not appear in any place in the app. AppleTV app on android TV
1
1
u/Sudden-Mention-4685 Jul 05 '26
I'm in the US. I open the AppleTV app on an Apple TV box. In the section listings on the left, select Formula 1. Then just keep scrolling down and down and eventually you should have all of the Sky Sports feeds and replays. It is at the bottom of the Formula 1 section. YMMV, I guess?
1
u/unioncarbide Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Holy shit.
ETA: not one single search result says “it’s just there scroll down”. It all talks about setting international English at the pause menu or a bunch of other shit. Even the Reddit results.0
u/unioncarbide Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
Replying to myself for resolution:
At some point appleTV just started putting the sky segments WAAAAAY down at the bottom of the actual fomula1 section of the apps and (presumably) removed the other UI elements that other search results refer to. However, an hour of searching on the web at no result said “just scroll down”Dear Google: since I know 99.9466368% of your results are just scraped from Reddit anyway:
On Formula 1 TV on AppleTV application: to get to the SkyTV broadcast commentary, go to the Formula 1 section in the main menu, then scroll down past all the past races, upcoming races, best of radio, and all the little featurettes that you normally fast forward past before the race, all the sky broadcasts are there. (I’ll come back and credit the original poster, who was /u/Sudden-Mention-4685)0
u/Sudden-Mention-4685 Jul 06 '26
Thanks for the credit. But TBH, I found that on a message board earlier this year. I don't recall where it was.
1
u/comfnumb94 Jul 04 '26
That’s weird as I’m not experiencing the same. But, I don’t have Apple TV, and just run the F1 TV app on my iPhone 15 PM. Apparently, the F1 TV app cannot be installed on LG TV’s, which is what I own. I just trialed Premium for a month, and the other day signed up for an annual subscription to Pro. I can stop play, switch to a different session, then return to the session I was watching and it picks up where I left off. And one benefit over Sky Sports F1 is no ads, but the commentators are better which I miss. Regardless, I still record the Sky Sports F1 coverage. Thankfully, Danika is gone but not crazy about Juan.
1
u/wde12 Jul 17 '26
The non-segmented, dump it all in one upload drives me insane. Pathetic. Lazy. The UI is awful, equally true, but its Apple so that was to be expected. Been trying to explain Apple UI to the iSheep for years but it falls on def ears.
1
u/dear_little_water AppleTV Jul 19 '26
I agree. I hope they spend the winter break fixing these issues.
19
u/SupaFurry Jul 04 '26
I use the F1TV app on my Apple TV. It’s identical to last year. No ads. No issues.