Popularity of F1

[QuickSilver]

Rated strictly by worldwide viewing audience, the top 3 sporting events of 2005 were:

1) Superbowl (American football) - 93 million people
2) Champions League final (Liverpool vs. AC Milan) - 73 million people
3) Canadian Grand Prix - 51 million people

I don't know about all of you, but #3 pleasantly surprised me ... even more so since it was almost cancelled. Funny ol' world.

Happy New Year to all.
-

[ss_collins]

Actually I feel the popularity of F1 is on the wane, with Sportcar racing on the up... Rallying to is doing very well indeed

[Bononi]

I don't know how this is measured (computed or whatever) but it doesn't seem to reflect the reality.

[Adam43]

It is partly my fault, for I watched the Superbowl live this year, but not the Canadian GP!

ss, there is a little way to go first! Personally I hope that Sportscar racing doesn't increase in popularity.

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by Bononi

I don't know how this is measured ...

Bon, don't you know that 63% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Bon, don't you know that 63% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

63%...

Like you just made it up right now ?

[QuickSilver]

busted!

[Nintendo]

Originally Posted by Bononi

63%...

Like you just made it up right now ?

You're both wrong, it's 68%

[pink69]

I have to admit my interest in F1 is dropping with all these stupid rule changes every year and no over taking anymore just made it all a bit dull this year! I'm watching more and more sports and touring cars now and superbikes too....even at 2am in the morning (thankyou very much channel 4!)

[ensign14]

Superbowl audience outside the United States = 0.0 people

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by ensign14

Superbowl audience outside the United States = 0.0 people

however, NRA membership inside the United States = 300 million.
-

[Kirk]

I am trying to figure a logical explanation for the Canadian GP numbers to be so high in viewers, but it is escaping me.

[chillibowl]

Originally Posted by Kirk

I am trying to figure a logical explanation for the Canadian GP numbers to be so high in viewers, but it is escaping me.

my guess would be high live viewship in N. America as the race is one of 2 races on at a regular time. also iirc the Canadian GP. was also shown live on C.B.S. (a major US network availible in all houses without the need for satellite). most of the other races are on at 6 am, so people (well me anyways) watch either a replay on Speed channel or from a tape recording (with FOM approval of course).

as for the superbowl... no here watches NFL Europe? its really quite crackin'

[Sodemo]

I don't really like football, never have to be honest, ive been to a few games, but never really took to it as a child.
I was motorsport mad from about the age of 5. So while all the other kids played football at school, me and my mate Adam used to chat more or less exclusively about F1. It seems as though you are branded as some kind of freak if your a boy and don't like football.

I like other sports though, althletics, skiing, tennis etc.

[safc_fan89]

I'm surprised that an F1 race is as high up as that. My interest in F1 will probably never decrease, but I can see why other fans are becoming disillusioned with the way F1 is heading.

[Nintendo]

51 million?!?! That's unbelieveable.

[SALEEN S7R]

Unbeleivable? A1 GP is getting around 30 million viewers per event, if A1 can get 30 million I would think F1 should be able to get substantially more. Click here for more details.

[Armco Bender]

63 million watched the final of the World Cup soccer in 2002,hard to see 53 million watched a random F1 race,this figure was most likely worked out by Bernies accountants to get a $1 per veiwer kick back from the race organiser.

[ensign14]

Actually around 1,300,000,000 watched the 2002 WC Final...

[R59]

To get the high figure you take a sample, say 1000 people who just happen to be walking down the road wearing "Molson Canadian Grand-Prix" t-shirts. Ask them if they watched the race.

Calculate the number who said yes as a percentage of the quantity you asked. Multiply that by the population of the world, and hey presto, lots of people watched it, didn't they!

Same goes for Superbowl - though they do an exit poll at the ground, and for some reason they don't get 100%!! (too many Homer Simpson types!)

The Champions League sample was taken from people in Toxteth (a 'nice' suburb of Liverpool) on match night.

I wonder how many watched the US "GP" and then how many will watch it in 2006?

Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics.
8 out of 10 cat owners said they preferred it. Next week, we'll ask the cats!

Rob.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

Unbeleivable? A1 GP is getting around 30 million viewers per event, if A1 can get 30 million I would think F1 should be able to get substantially more. Click here for more details.

It is all in the measuring. As Ive seen statistica that say that F1` has attracted 20 billions viewers in a year (which dived by 19 races is more than 51 million).

Are we talking seen anything from that race, watched it live, had their eyes open when the race was on. It is all about understanding the measurement, still why bother?

The only thing we can be sertain of is that F1 is dying, infact it is practically dead. Everyone in the world watches Formula Exiplorre.

[JAG]

Lets get it right, F1 is on different level to all other motorsport series, only individual races can compete with an individual F1 race, i.e. Le Mans, Indy 500, Daytona 500, Monte Carlo Rally.

But then again, F1 budgets are in a different league to everything else so huge viewing and spectator attendances are required.

A better baramometer of F1s relative popularity is the collpase in attendance at the German F1 races, despite the Schumacher, BMW, Mercedes influence.

[Gore]

Originally Posted by Kirk

I am trying to figure a logical explanation for the Canadian GP numbers to be so high in viewers, but it is escaping me.

I read an article in Autosprout c.2001 that explained this: the majority of F1 coverage is in Europe; the Canadian, US and Brazilian GPs are in the evening on Europe time; a lot of people in Europe sit down for dinner on Sunday evening and watch whatever appears in front of their eyes...

Hence, spectacularly high ratings for the N. and S. American races.

Depressing, huh?

[maltafan]

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Rated strictly by worldwide viewing audience, the top 3 sporting events of 2005 were:

1) Superbowl (American football) - 93 million people
2) Champions League final (Liverpool vs. AC Milan) - 73 million people
3) Canadian Grand Prix - 51 million people

I don't know about all of you, but #3 pleasantly surprised me ... even more so since it was almost cancelled. Funny ol' world.

Happy New Year to all.
-

It is quite strange to see that the Canadian GP was the one with most viewership. I am not surprised at all to see the Champions League final in 2nd place, but I wonder how many people outside America watched the the Superbowl final.

I am wondering, if these people included a Chinese sport in their survey, would Superbowl still get 1st place??

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Gore

Depressing, huh?

Why? I often miss live coverage of racing becuase I am doing something else.

The thing is to make a sport popular it was to be wached by many people who don't have a deep routed following. These people are also the people more likely to buy cars, mobile phones, cigerettes, cheese of the back of it.

So you could argue that for us enthusiasts being popular isn't so great!