BBC to share F1 with Sky

[Bruce Fielding]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9550930.stm

This is a really bad idea. Almost as bad as having ITV do it! Virtually as bad as having Rosenthal do it. Nearly as bad as having Legard do it.

The BBC are doing the best job ever, but budgets mean it can only have half? Rubbish decision.

[wasp]

[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/9550930.stm

This is a really bad idea. Almost as bad as having ITV do it! Virtually as bad as having Rosenthal do it. Nearly as bad as having Legard do it.

The BBC are doing the best job ever, but budgets mean it can only have half? Rubbish decision.
[/quote]

Completely agree, F1 has been brilliant since it's been back at the Beeb.

Bernie said just last month how important it was that F1 was available free to air and unless Sky are going to change the habit of a lifetime........

It's bad for fans and bad for sponsors who want the widest possible coverage.

And as for some races and not others, what numpty came up with that plan?

Please, please not Legard.

I know money talks and suspect Sky will do a decent job but as a non subscriber to Sky Sports I didn't really want to pay another £300+ a year to get Sky Sports on HD.

Cheers,

Stu

[benyeats]

Terrible news.  I suppose the only saving grace is Sky Sports won't have adverts during the race. 

I only hope Sky / the BBC manage to use the same production team for all races so the coverage is at least consistent.  Then again I would imagine Sky will offer up money for the current team or why would you watch a simulcast race on their channel rather than the Beeb.

Better hope our village's broadband upgrade comes before next F1 season so I can watch on line.

Ben

[Trigger]

Bloody hell. Just as the BBC were doing such a good job. Sky are better with their mobile/online viewing tbh, but still.....'some' races on the BBC......damn !

[Steve Gibson]

The BBC will show 'half the races'. They might as well only show the first half of football matches they broadcast. Plain stupid deal, if you're an F1 fan who doesn't have Sky and doesn't want it.

[Bruce Fielding]

Oh, BSKYB just announced decent profits as well...

[benyeats]

For what it's worth:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/

I am also considering other avenues of attack such as contacting F1 sponsors to point out how many viewers won't be seeing their logos any more

Ben

[Bruce Fielding]

[quote="benyeats"]
For what it's worth:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/
[/quote]

Done

[benyeats]

[quote="Bruce Fielding"]
[quote="benyeats"]
For what it's worth:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/
[/quote]

Done
[/quote]

Also

info@teamsassociation.org

Which is the general address for FOTA, the team's association.  Let them know how annoyed the sponsors customers are....

[jon b]

P*sses me off  I would rather the BBC  started charging

It means that Sky will broadcast every race- including qualifying and practice sessions- from 2012 to 2018.

BBC have reduced their live coverage to 10 races, saying that they are committed to showing the "key races" such as the Monaco and British Grand Prix.

This agreement means that for the first time, Formula 1 will not be available on free to air television.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports said: "This is fantastic news for Formula One fans and Sky Sports will be the only place to follow every race live and in High Definition.

"We will give Formula One the full Sky Sports treatment with a commitment to each race never seen before on UK television."

The cost of buying rights to cover the sport is between 30 and 40 million pounds per year, according to media reports, leading the BBC to decide to share.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone had previously said he was reluctant for TV rights to the sport to go to a UK pay-TV channel but has mellowed in his view.

"It's super for F1. It will mean a lot more coverage for the sport," Ecclestone said.

[wisp]

Live races of F1 have been on Sky Sports here for a couple of seasons now. Probably why I don't watch it.

[quote="benyeats"]
I only hope Sky / the BBC manage to use the same production team for all races so the coverage is at least consistent.  Then again I would imagine Sky will offer up money for the current team or why would you watch a simulcast race on their channel rather than the Beeb.

Ben
[/quote]

Produced by Formula One Group apparently (except the Monaco Grand Prix). Looks like they just have different Commentators/Reporters for the different countries.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Formula_One_broadcasters

[PaulP]

Just how much money does that greedy, midget Eccleston want? It is him after all who is charging the TV companies.

Like many others I think the BBC are doing a great job and now it's over, bo**ocks.

[wattie]

Guess I must be the only one happy about this as I'll now be able to watch it in Cyprus (assuming we have restored electricity and not gone bankrupt) without some Greek jibber jabber on the commentary 

Cheers Wattie

[AtomMadStew]

[quote="Steve Gibson"]
if you're an F1 fan who doesn't have Sky and doesn't want it.
[/quote]

That will be me then 

done my BBC complaints form. 
to**ers 

Stew

[wattie]

Don't worry Stew I'll record the races you miss for you!
Cheers Wattie