From 2018 forward, the USA will no longer be watching F1 on NBCSN. They signed a deal for F1 to be broadcast on ESPN. Which to me, means bigger audiences. http://www.crash.net/f1/news/883530/1/f1-enters-new-digital-tv-partnership-with-espn
ESPN turned it's back on racing a decade ago. They were convinced the NFL and the other kickball game would be all they needed for long term ratings bonanzas. Most likely the same production company will handle the actual broadcast, so we'll get some form of the current broadcasters from NBCSN which all previously had migrated from the Speed Channel after that was bought by Nascar and they phased out all things not Nascar. That means Good ol David Hobbs, Steve Machett, and either Bob Varsha or Leigh Diffey.
lol I remember being in the US at some point years ago, flicking channels, finding something with Leigh Diffey commentating... I said hey, that's Leigh Diffey... someone said, you want to watch it for a bit? I said, na...
Awww, poor Leigh... everybody bashin on him. "Its time to bring the action!!!" LOL At least I wont have to watch it streamed from Sky Sports.
remember, I was only GUESSING they'd keep the same production company & announcers. I haven't even read the article, just using the past to forecast the future.
I could live without Leigh or Steve, but if we lose Hobbo I might stop watching F1 on TV... "Cor---blimey!"
Yep, I remember vividly. ABC (ESPN parent Co.) had Indycar, ESPN2 had Champ Car and ESPN had F1, all at once. As for Leigh Diffey, I prefer him 3 steps above Bob Varsha. I swear Bob is on pain killers or something. He couldn't get anyone's blood pressure up if he had an IV. I could care less about David Hobbs, but I love Steve Matchett. He is VERY good at teaching technical subjects.
Hobbs for me was at his best when he was teasing Alain Prost on air. The Brit in him just couldn't let any little jab go by. Prost would make a pass for the lead and Hobbs would say he's applied the Koop de Graycie. [deliberately mispronouncing it}