Sky Sports F1 Channel Only Subscription - Catch-up Issues

[Azzy1988]

Hi everyone. So with the new F1 season starting this weekend I thought I'd purchase the Sky Sprts F1 channel only at £15 a month on a 31 day rolling contract. I thought this is perfect, I can catch up when I can and not miss a race. 
Then I hit a problem. Woke up this morning and thought I'd catch up on the practice sessions. Went through the menu on my Sky Glass, found the practice sessions then hit play. Then it says I needed to upgrade my subscription. Then I realised it said the program was on Sky sports main event. Does this mean I can't watch any F1 catch up even though I'm subscribed to the F1 channel? I'm really disappointed if this is the case. 

Moderator note: subject of thread updated to better reflect the conversation

[i-am-andrew]

We have just started a Sky Stream service with F1 (not full Sports) and UHD. We expected this to mean we could watch all F1 content either live, chasing playback or after the sessions. At time of writing the first two 2025 Australia practice sessions have taken place in the early hours of the morning (UK time). The service will not let us watch them saying that we need to upgrade. They are listed as being on the Sky Sports Main Event channel even though they would have been on the F1 channel when live. Surely this is a fault but I spoke to customer service and they were not surprised suggesting we would have to upgrade to Sky Sports, they didn't see any point in raising it as a fault.

Frankly we're gobsmacked. We don't recall reading anywhere in the terms and conditions that F1 subscribers are only allowed to watch the F1 channel live. We're paying £15 a month for F1 whereas Sky Sports would have been £20 a month, so even though we're paying 75% just to watch the F1 part of Sky Sports we're still being artificially constrained in what we're allowed to watch.

Does this match others experiences? Is it really right that Sky Stream F1 subscribers are only allowed to watch the F1 channel live or is this a fault that Sky need to fix?

[AndrewF_UK]

Hi @Azzy1988 

It sounds like the cloud recording happened on main event rather than the F1 channel and you're right, that's not useful if you only have the F1 channel.

I recommend you email Viewer Relations on viewerR@sky.uk about this as they may be able to help, or change it in future.

[lettice]

That should not be the case.

I have asked Sky about this error in our closed area of the Sky community.

[KevNewMedia]

Morning Everyone

Thank you for bringing this problem to our attention, and thank you, @lettice for tagging us.

Can I ask for some more information, please?

• Can you watch the f1 live channel, OK?
• Can you watch any content in catch-up that isn't labelled as coming from the main event channel? I.e. The F1 Show: Lights Out

[Azzy1988]

I'm able to watch the F1 channel and any content that's labelled with the F1 channel. Anything with Sky sports main event labelled I cannot watch. Says I must upgrade my subscription 

[MarkGoldsmith]

The F1 cloud recordings have always been a bit strange in that if the session is simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event the cloud recording seemingly happens from that channel rather than the dedicated F1 channel. I've noticed this in past F1 seasons with the recordings being a mix of Main Event and the F1 channel, which of course isn't exactly helpful for those that only subscribe to the F1 channel rather than the complete Sky Sports Pack.

[KevNewMedia]

Thanks @Azzy1988 

We've escalated the problem to our support teams for investigation and will update everyone when we hear back.

I'm going to mark this post as the answer, so people have the most up-to-date information.

[82bit]

This has been happening for the longest time. Not just for F1. Anything that is simulcast on Main Event seems to be the default recording. Even if Main Event goes to that sports event part way through - incredibly frustrating when you try and play it back and it starts playing only from when Main Event started showing it. 

[i-am-andrew]

Thanks for looking into this.

Like others have already confirmed I can watch The F1 channel (406) live and watch catch-up shown as being from the F1 channel such as the Drivers Conference and F1 Show: Lights Out. So it's the content shown as being from the Main Event channel that I'm prevented from watching (despite it also having being on the F1 channel when live).

When I spoke to customer services, three times I prompted them to raise this as a fault but they wouldn't.

It's a relief to hear this is considered to be a fault and I hope it can be resolved very quickly. If not I will be terminating my contract while in the cooling off period.

Thanks again

[streamer2024]

Hi all,

Signed up for the F1 only subscription, missed the practice this morning, went to watch it on catch up but can't as it's on the main event channel. 

Surely the F1 only subscription isn't just for live events?

[MarkGoldsmith]

@streamer2024 - there is a known issue Sky are investigating: https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Glass-Live/Sky-Sports-F1-Channel-Only-Subscription-Catch-up-Issues/... .

Hopefully one of the SU+ will shortly merge your post into that thread to make it easier for you to track updates.

[streamer2024]

Thanks for that. Appreciate it. 

[KevNewMedia]

Hey @Azzy1988 @i-am-andrew @streamer2024 

Can you check and see if you can play the content now, for me please?

[i-am-andrew]

Thanks, I am able to watch the Australia practice sessions now 👍