A Bit of Fry and Brawn
F1 teams are finally getting a grip on the video sharing revolution, and to prove the point, Honda F1 Racing have just published an interview with their new team principal, Ross Brawn, up on YouTube.
If I was being picky, I’d point out that this video appeared on the Honda Racing TV site, two days ago. What took so long to get it onto YouTube?
Nevertheless, it’s a good interview, and a great sign of things to come.
November 15th, 2007 at 12:51 amme said:
i’m also liking that alistair weaver bloke’s work.
i wonder if ITV have spotted him yet?
November 15th, 2007 at 9:08 amSidepodcast : Your Weekly F1 Podcast » Miro, Miro on the Wall said:
[...] Alongside the facility to manage your video podcasts, is the ability to search multiple sources of online content (including the likes of YouTube, Dailymotion and many others). This means, not only can you find all of this years Sidepodcast TV shows easily, but you’ll also be able to keep up with the latest episodes from the likes of Honda Racing TV. [...]
November 15th, 2007 at 9:22 pmDan said:
Finally, a team is starting to get it. Let’s hope that others take note.
You know for all the hundreds of thousands that these teams spend on P.R. and advertising firms, that at they would have figured out how to use the web to increase popularity and interest in the sport. I wish that this was something that the FIA would figure out. It is sad that the sport leaves teams to their own devices when it comes to promotion and fan relations. From personal experience and my expertise in public relations*, organization is the key to effectively communicating and interacting to public. This something that FIA has never learned.
Bernie, Max, and the rest of the FIA are so backwards when it comes to the internet and in all of their public relation efforts… it’s insane. It is something that both you and Christine have highlighted very well and commend you for your coverage. Being an American who hates stock car racing, it distains me to bring up another point where NASCAR absolutely demolishes the F1. Look at the NASCAR website (http://www.nascar.com/) versus the Formula One website (http://www.formula1.com/). NASCAR provides interviews, team insights, race previews, commentary, and highlight from previous races. Also they do a pretty good job on the things like the engineering, design, rules, and other more technical aspects of NASCAR through their on-line presence. They actually make so you want to go to their website.
What, in my opinion, it comes down to is who they appreciate. True both NASCAR and F1 both depend heavily on cooperate sponsorship, however NASCAR gets that without the fans they are nothing. Everything that they do is to make the sport as fan friendly as possible. This is reflected in their on-line presence, TV presentation, and everything else. The effort is geared 100% towards gaining new fans and increasing the interest of the fans they already have. Frankly, I believe that Bernie, Max and the lot couldn’t give a damn about the fans. To them, we are just another number on their financial sheet. The fans, history, passion, and even the racing itself are irrelevant to these guys. Being an American F1 fan, I know this all to well.
To Christine and the rest of you that put up sidepodcast, thanks and keep up the good work. Without you and other sites like yours, I would have given up on F1 long ago.
- Dan Brunell; Olympia, WA, USA
*Other than being a dedicated motor sports fan, I work as a communications director for the Washington state Chamber of Commerce.
November 15th, 2007 at 9:36 pmme said:
now would be a good time to mention the annual FIA survey, where fans get to say:
“we love the historical tracks like Imola and Suzuka”
only to see them axed from the calendar shortly afterwards. it’s almost as if they enjoy wasting our time.
November 16th, 2007 at 12:25 amDan said:
Speaking of the FIA Survey. (fia.com/mediacentre/Press_Releases/FIA_Sport/200…) Here were the areas of origin of the responders to the survey.
Europe – 63%
North America – 16%
Asia – 8%
Middle East – 5%
Oceania – 5%
Africa – 2%
South America – 2%
So how do they respond to this strong response and interest from North America… they take away the US Grand Prix and nearly nix the Canadian Grand Prix. Unbelievable.
- Dan
November 16th, 2007 at 1:58 pmRich said:
If you look at the official site for A1GP and the MotGP webcasts you see how primitive the top three F1 companies own webpages are as well as the FIA which is really boring. At least Williams and Renualt have good podcasts and Spyker had a good news letter. When will the others realise that the homepage is a means to inform and engage with audience around the world - something that Sidepodcast does fantastically well!