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Which group does F1 need to survive?
Casual Viewers 6 (35.3%)
Hardcore Fans 11 (64.7%)
Total Votes: 17
Casual Viewers vs Hardcore Fans
Topic Started: May 27 2009, 02:47 PM (385 Views)
Alien_SAP_Fiend
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Is it possible to enjoy F1 without knowing a fair bit about the rules, the teams, the drivers, what's been going on behind the scenes, etc?

Whenever I am watching a race with a Casual Viewer, I get a constant stream of questions about who is in which car why the car in front isn't actually leading, tyres, pit strategy, etc and the only time they seem to get excited is when there's a crash.

Few if any of them make it to the end of a race or bother to get up early or read F1 News sites or care if the winner isn't the same nationality as they are. None go as apopleptic as I do when Media Center records Bob the Flippin' Builder instead of Qualifying.

I can hardly see them caring very much if FOTA do break away, as long as there are plenty of accidents, they'll be happy <sarcasm>

So, is F1 accessible to the Great Unwashed or is it reserved for us propeller-head-type afficiendos? Who does F1 need the most?
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PiquetFan
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I would say that there is a continuum of viewer interests and knowledge, rather than a clear demarcation between Casual and Hardcore. It also seems to me that F1 needs the enthusiasts just as much as those who watch on a less regular basis, although the viewer numbers will be what brings in the advertising.

I also believe that the man in the street is smart enough to know that a series without the top names in motor sport is going to be a lesser series, and consequently less popular. Even in SA, where A1GP is on free-to-air, and F1 is on satellite the overwhelming interest in the media and amongst those who follow on a more casual basis is on the premier of the two series.
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AndyW76
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I am a life long F1 fan and I do have an appreciation for the traditions involved. Whatever happens, I would prefer it if the older teams were still involved. Ok, I would also prefer to see good racing as well but I really do miss names like Brabham, Lotus and Tyrrell.
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Nomad
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To continue to be as successful financially as it currently is, I believe that F1 needs bodies in front of TV sets. Viewer numbers and demographics are what the advertisers consider when they sign up to sponsor teams or broadcasts. While the hardcore fan is important, the casual fan is what makes up the far greater numbers. When the casual fans start watching something else, advertising money will follow them. Very few companies sponsor F1 because they love the sport, most do it to advertise and if they are not reaching the consumers, they will take their advertising dollars elsewhere.

Sad, but it is the business reality and F1 is a business.
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Rob
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All sports needs both.
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SaveOurSilverstone
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isn't the hardcore that actually go to the race weekends and who buy the merchandise??
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Rob
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But casual fans make up the tv numbers. Like I said sports need both.
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Red Andy
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SaveOurSilverstone,May 27 2009
06:54 PM
isn't the hardcore that actually go to the race weekends and who buy the merchandise??

FOM doesn't make money from gate receipts anyway, and merchandising revenue is tiny compared to what is made from advertising and TV money. And as Nomad says, with a (casual) global audience of millions, most of the money comes from the TV viewers rather than the "hardcore" fans.
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pedal power
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i would describe myself as between the two.

Last year i didn't watch all the races, whereas this year i have (so far been watching all the practice sessions, qualifying and the main race.
At the beginning of the season it was mostly to see how the teams coped with the new rule changes and if the teams times in the pre-season testing match their performance on race day.
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Lex
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Think you missed the trick.

How many footy 'fans' only watch the big games?

F1 transcends hardcore vs casual. Does it really matter if folks get up at 4am like us sad bastards or watch the edited higlights?

I don't have any figures to prove it but I reckon F1 in the UK has been more popular in the last 3 years than since 1996

The hardcore fans provide the bread and butter in terms of advertising revenue, the casual fans provide the icing - in every country where 'their boy' is doing good
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Alien_SAP_Fiend
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Spot on Lex. There are footie fans and there are people who watch the big games. Thing is in F1, you need to know what's going on to a far greater extents than in most other sports. It's easy enough to sit and watch a footie match when there are two teams chasing a ball around and trying to get it in a net. How many people could randomly sit in front of a telly and watch an entire GP, especially the Monaco GP. The commentators try to explain what's going on and the pre-race build up does as well... but the casual fans don't really care enough about it and as a result, bet bored and watch something else.
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spottygiraffe
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None of my family get excited about F1 because they've never really sat down to watch a whole race from build-up to finish. If I've ever tried to watch a race at a casual fan's house I struggle to get into it too because they talk too much! Race days are now sacred and I have to watch on my own in a hermetically sealed room. And yes I do get up at 4am, but no I've never been to a race so my financial contribution if you like is just from telly viewing even though I consider myself a hardcore fan.
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Craze_b0i
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I can't imagine there are that many of what I would term 'casual fans' because with f1 you need a certain knowledge to follow everything that is going on. You really have to focus on what is happening to follow the story of the race.

Sure there is a supreme hardcore element who attend races and watch all the tv practice and quali sessions. But imo even those viewers who just watch the races on sunday are reasonably interested and dedicated.
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Alien_SAP_Fiend
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Craze_b0i,May 29 2009
11:55 AM
You really have to focus on what is happening to follow the story of the race.

You really have to follow the season to get anything out of F1. Imagine a casual viewer watching one of the final racs in 2004? Or trying to figure out why the guy who finished 5th in Brazil in 2008 was World Champion and not the guy who won.
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