At least the thing with a 360-degree image is that it doesn't neccessarily require the VR hardware. You can look at it on your phone & move the camera around by your finger (or on a PC with a mouse). Which is what Formula E (and the FOM/Sky Facebook vids) use.

I don't know if anyone saw this (from racing-circuits.info) about Monaco?

They could always use or rent out a yacht that week.

I highly doubt the combined production crews, offices & equipment of tens of broadcasting companies could all fit in a yacht (or even a yacht each)

Actually Joe Saward has said they'll just find some other TV location and the race will continue, and he doesn't understand why Michel Boeri is acting like it's the end of the world.

Monaco has a football stadium doesn't it? Surely they'd have room for TV companies?

https://twitter.com/keithcollantine/...80040410664960

Nothing against Keith or Ben but I’d rather watch Indycar with the domestic commentary feed.

Back when we used to get an international commentary feed for Indycar on sky it was always frustrating because we were never getting all of the information that the domestic feed was providing. We never used to get team radio, we never used to hear many of the pit reports or team/driver interviews (Even when we were getting the pictures) & there were often things that were happening in terms of potential car problems or penalty’s that we never found out about until post race because the international commentary crew never had access to it.

The stuff BT have been providing during the american ad-breaks has been fine, but i still greatly prefer getting the on-site commentary because they have far more information available & the NBC team always do a great job in getting that information across to the viewer & its always great to hear PT & T-Bell give there insights into various things because neither are afraid to say what they feel.

Sky has been doing their own commentary on International Cricket for Years. Although it's usually at the stadium, it's just not the same as a proper host broadcaster commentary. Off-tube is going to be much worse IMO.

Re VR, to be honest I expect it to be like 3D. A bit of excitement, then it fades away and nobody really cares about it any more. Certainly watching films in 3D I don't think "wow" and think it looks amazing. If I watch the same film in 2D it doesn't change the experience for me, and to be honest I doubt VR would either. I'm more than happy just sat watching the F1 on the TV as normal. I see no real reason for VR personally.

Is there any reason why they're doing the commentary for this one in particular? Why can't they take the NBC/ESPN US commentary like the other races?

TV Sports Markets twitter has article (unencrypted) on Sky F1 deal - doesn't give rights value but does contain various background information.

Says that FOM could have earned more from an exclusive deal with Sky Deutschland but rejected that option.

https://twitter.com/TVSportsMarkets

^ Text below

I remember when ITV did that.

Think they have all done it at some point, then realised it was a bad idea.

Actually, given that all the TV companies (from Ted's notebook) seem to use shipping containers for all their production equipment, why not get in a big freight tanker for them all to use?

TV equipment could obviously go anywhere, and presumably there's no real reason why it all has to be in the same place either. Also technology tends to get smaller.

Assuming the ruling family are in favour of the GP then clearly nobody is going to be allowed to do anything that would compromise it.

Don't forget they need a Fiber connection and stable Satellite uplinks as well, may not be practical from a floating platform, especially in rough conditions.

I was joking.

To be fair, a platform in the harbour or just outside for the TV crews to be based on is not really a bad idea. Any sat dishes requiring stability could be very easily be anchored to the bed which shouldn't be that deep close to the shore.
Personally I would miss this "race" as it's not generally a good race as such. I get that the skill is driving without hitting the walls, and I'm sure that for the drivers it's fun & a real test, but for viewers at home, relatively dull in general.

No Martin Brundle in Canada for Sky.

"medical procedure"

In case anyone wonders why, it's because he underwent a medical procedure last week

The full tweet from Martin:

"Had a medical procedure last week, went extremely well. I won't be in Montreal but my excellent @SkySportsF1 colleagues will. Every lap live"

I guess Paul will be filling in

MB is never one to hide when he has been bored.

Such a shame. I'm a huge Brundle fan. This'll be the first race he's missed since Hungary 2008, I think.

Presumably if the medical procedure has gone well, as he's said it has, then he'll still be at Le Mans next weekend.

therefore missing 2 races