Why The BM1208 Error Pops Up on F1 TV and How To Fix It

The BM1208 error is an on-screen F1 TV playback error code that appears when the service fails to load or play video content. It often shows up with a message like “Sorry, we have encountered an error. Please try again later (BM1208).”

This is a generic streaming error on F1 TV, triggered by various issues, including software bugs, account problems, or network glitches. It means the platform has encountered an unexpected issue and cannot play your race or replay your stream at this time.

Fortunately, there are several simple checks you can perform before concluding it’s a service-wide outage. These include signing out of all devices and then signing in again, or by clearing cached data and cookies in their browser.

Updating or reinstalling the F1 TV app also clears the error.

Causes and solutions to the BM1208 error that pops up on F1 TV

The BM1208 error can stem from one or more underlying causes. Below are the known causes across web, iOS, Android, Smart TVs, and other operating systems. For each cause, we explain why it might trigger BM1208, how it manifests, and how to fix it.

1. Outdated F1 TV app or browser

Running an outdated or buggy version of the F1 TV app or using an incompatible web browser version leads to playback failures. The platform is regularly updated, and older app versions do not support the latest streaming protocols or UI changes.

If the app detects that a new version is needed, it refuses to play content, resulting in a BM1208 error.

On mobile devices (Android or iOS), you’ll see a message prompting “New version available” when trying to open a video. On a Smart TV or streaming stick, the app may hang or immediately show an error when selecting a race. On a computer browser, the page might load, but the video won’t play.

How to fix:

Update or reinstall the app: On mobile or TV, open your device’s app store. This could be the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Roku Channel Store, etc. Install any available updates for “F1 TV”.
Clear app cache or data: On Android, go to Settings > Apps > F1 TV > Storage and tap Clear Cache or Clear Data. Then restart the app and log in again. This removes any old corrupted data.
Use a different browser: On desktop or laptop, try a different browser in case the one you’re using is outdated. Ensure it’s the latest version of the browser. You can also try an incognito or private window.
Check app compatibility: Ensure your device meets F1 TV’s requirements and isn’t running a very old OS that the latest app doesn’t support.

2. Account or multiple-device session issues

F1 TV limits you to six devices that can stream under the same account at once. If you have multiple devices signed in, an account issue or “session conflict” can trigger errors.

This can manifest as BM1208 because the stream can’t properly allocate your request.

The error often appears on every device logged in at the same time if the account itself has an issue. You might also notice that the app indicates too many streams are open (though that is a different error code, PB2001).

How to fix:

Sign out and in again: On the device that’s showing the error, sign out of the F1 TV app or website. Restart it, then log in with your email and password again. This resets your session.
Avoid multiple streams: If you have family members using your account, ensure no more than the allowed number of simultaneous streams are in use. If someone else is watching, end their session. Then try your stream again.
Log out everywhere: As a last resort, go to your account management page on formula1.com. Use the option to sign out of all devices or sessions. Then close the app or browser on all devices. Wait a minute, then log back in fresh on your primary device.

3. Internet or network issues

Streaming problems often result from network connectivity issues. Slow Wi-Fi, poor cellular signal, restrictive firewalls, and ISP settings can block or disrupt the F1 TV stream.

Using a VPN or ad-blocker might also interfere with streaming servers and cause BM1208. This might be accompanied by other errors if you face geo-blocks (BM12001, BM1400, ER4100).

How to fix:

Check your internet speed: Run a speed test on the device using fast.com or speedtest.net to confirm you have enough bandwidth. It should be stable and more than 5 Mbps for smooth video playback.
Restart router/modem: If you found the internet to be unstable, turn off your Wi-Fi router or unplug it for 30 seconds. Power it back on. After it reconnects, try streaming again.
Disable VPN/Proxy/Ad-Blocker: Turn off any VPN or proxy service, as these can interfere with F1 TV’s geolocation or DRM. Also, disable any browser ad-blocking or privacy extensions when using the F1 TV website, and try again.
Check DNS settings: Go to your router settings and check the DNS servers you are using. Set to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) to resolve streaming problems.
Try a different network: If possible, connect your device to a different provider or switch from Wi-Fi to cellular data. If the error goes away, your original network had an issue. Some users have reported that this error occurs when using certain ISPs. For most, the issue was resolved when they switched to a local provider.
Contact ISP: In rare cases, an ISP’s routing to F1 TV’s servers might be blocked. If you suspect this, contact their support. Also, contact them if your speed test is below what you are paying for.

4. Browser data and cookies issues

The F1 TV web player relies on cached data for authentication and stream requests. If those stored cookies become invalid, an error code like BM1208 appears.

How to fix:

Clear browser cache and cookies: In your browser settings, find the option to clear browsing data. Delete cookies and site data for formula1.com or f1tv.formula1.com. After doing so, restart the browser, log in again, and try playing a video.
Use Incognito/Private mode: As a quick workaround, open a new private window and log into F1 TV there. If videos play, it confirms that the regular cache was the issue.
Try a different browser or device: If clearing doesn’t help, switch to a different browser or device entirely, which won’t have the old cookies.
Re-login: After clearing cookies, you will be logged out. Simply sign back into F1 TV with your credentials.

5. F1 TV service or broadcast outage

Sometimes BM1208 is not about your device at all, but an issue on F1 TV’s side. During live events or periods of heavy usage, the servers or streaming infrastructure can experience hiccups.

The 2025 season has had a few occasions where many users got errors (including BM1208) due to service glitches. These are “server-side” issues that cause the error code to appear, and they typically affect many users simultaneously.

When F1 TV itself has an outage or widespread problem, you’ll see errors across multiple streams and devices, often with different error codes at the same time. In such cases, even switching devices or updating the app won’t help.

How to fix:

Test other content: If a live race is giving BM1208 but older races play fine, it might be a temporary glitch with that specific stream.
Check official channels: Visit F1 TV Support or F1’s official X (@F1Help) to see if an outage or maintenance is announced. You can also check the F1 TV subreddit, where users post about widespread problems.
Wait and retry: If it’s a service problem, the only real fix is patience. Allow 5 to 30 minutes and try again, as these issues are typically resolved by F1TV engineers quickly.
Restart stream: Once the service is back, you may need to refresh the page or restart the app. If you logged out earlier, log back in.

When to contact F1 TV support

If none of the above steps resolve BM1208, it may be time to escalate to F1 TV support. You should contact support in the following circumstances:

Persistent error: You’ve tried updating, restarting, logging in/out, clearing cache, and the BM1208 error still appears on all content.
Cross-device issues: The error happens on every device you try, even on different networks.
Error during official broadcast: If the error occurs during a live race or official event and you suspect it’s on their side, report it after confirming it’s not just your connection.

When contacting support, have the following to help them diagnose the problem:

Error details: Clearly state that you encountered error code BM1208. Include the exact message text.
Context: Mention what you were trying to watch. Is it a live session, a replay, which GP and year, and when the error happened?
Account info: Give your F1 TV account details, such as email or username, but not the password.
Devices & app info: List the devices you tried, OS/app versions, and browser if applicable.
Actions taken: Summarise the troubleshooting you’ve done to avoid repeating known steps.

Use the official F1 TV support portal to submit a ticket or live chat. You can also mention @F1Help on X for updates, but official support via the portal is best.