If you try to access F1TV via a VPN from your country where F1TV Pro is not available (like the UK) it will no longer play the full race videos and displays an geographical error code…

  • Sentau ( Sentau@lemmy.one ) English
    7·
    3 years ago

    This is bullshit. What if I have to go a different country for a work trip. Should I be forced to not watch the race that weekend even though I have a F1TV pro subscription in the country where I reside for the majority of the year¿?

  • Hazzard ( Hazzard@lemm.ee ) English
    3·
    3 years ago

    That’s too bad. I run a VPN on my phone 24/7, literally set to the country I live in, it’s just for privacy/security. Incredibly annoying that now the F1 app will be obnoxious about that.

  • narc0tic_bird ( narc0tic_bird@lemm.ee ) English
    3·
    3 years ago

    At least for now, F1TV Pro works fine for me here in Germany. I’ve been using it since 2021 without a VPN (only used a VPN for signing up once) and never had any issues.

    We’ll see if it works this weekend.

    Else I’ll have to get the Sky package. I don’t even mind paying more to be honest, it’s just that F1TV is so nice to use and has great third-party apps (like MultiViewer), plus I really enjoy their commentary. I’m not even sure if I can at least get the English Sky commentary with Sky Germany…

    • datendefekt ( datendefekt@lemmy.ml ) English
      2·
      3 years ago

      I tried out sky (well, actually wowtv) and the absolute deal breaker for me was that the races are not viewable on demand. I also got for IndyCar, and canceled my subscription the next day because of that.

  • Elegast 🏎️ ( Elegast123@mastodon.social ) 
    3·
    3 years ago

    @Vormuk so the issue is in some countries F1 TV is not available. People would then pay for the service and still have to use a VPN to access the service. Now this seems to be not an option? That’s pretty shitty. They can play it off like they have no control all they like. This is a shit move for people who want access.

    • Vormuk ( Vormuk@feddit.uk ) OP
      1·
      3 years ago

      Yes basically. Here in the UK. Yoi cam access f1TV for some live data, but not watch the actual race. Even after it’s finished. So we have to VPN to another country in order to both buy F1TV Pro access and utilise that access. That has now been block.

  • florge ( florge@feddit.uk ) English
    2·
    3 years ago

    Always made me laugh that the official F1 podcasts are sponsored by expressVPN and the spiel they have to mention is how it can circumvent geo-restricted content, but at the same time F1 has it’s own geo-restricted platform.

  • Hirom ( Hirom@beehaw.org ) English
    1·
    1 year ago

    This makes it less convenient to watch F1 with a paying subscription, while they’re competing with illegal streaming sites that don’t have this restriction.

    Please stop shooting yourself in the foot. Fix the terms and contractual mess that burden your paying customer base. They’re not the real adversary.

  • JCPhoenix ( JCPhoenix@beehaw.org ) English
    1·
    3 years ago

    Hmm, I wonder if this also affects personal/private VPNs. I have a personal VPN back to my homelab server/network. I have a commercial VPN service, as well, and I know I’ve been blocked from some services while using that one. Though I’ve never tried with my personal VPN.