No adverts - brilliant.

They must keep Brundle though.

Yes!! Absolutely, Tobe is the man. But, he can only do bikes so well because he knows them inside out. I heard him do a rally once and he wasn't so spontaneous.

Who said Simon Taylor? I can't bear the way his throat tightens up when he gets excited.

The best thing for me will be the end of that awful dirge musak. The Chain, thay can't not bring that back

Is it too early to petition the BBC to NOT bring James Allen across?! Can I contemplate the day when he will be just a fading bad memory?



This is roughly my feeling about it. The amount of ‘build up’ on ITV is over the top for the amount of useful information it actually contains - not much. The amount of time does not point to a substantial improvement, and I wouldn’t call it detailed. The Brundle grid walk has become largely pointless and irritating, and I could hardly care less about what so-called celebs have to say. Saying that ‘the show is slick, and well presented’ is highly debatable. And who needs pundits, anyway?

Personally, I have no need for coverage of every single practice session, etc. If that kind of stuff is available interactively for those who want it then fine.

There was a comment about the BBC coverage of MotoGP, with Suzi Perry as ‘a lone campaigner’. Of course, Suzi is partnered by Matt Roberts, Steve Parrish and Charlie Cox. You don’t need any more people, and for me the level of coverage of MotoGP should be the example for any terrestrial F1 broadcaster to follow. It’s concise, to the point, informative and entertaining. I once had doubts about Suzi Perry, but the MotoGP team is much better than that of ITV F1. I’d say I’m optimistic.

Dude....my petition also asks BBC to keep Martin!

Oops.

http://www.petitiononline.com/bbcf1ben/petition.html

I just watched a guy from BBC Sports be interviewed on BBC News 24.

He confirmed other sports will be dropped (but didn't say what) to make way for F1 coverage, which sounds like they'll have a slot for at least qualifying and the race.

They BBC Sports guy acknowledged what great job ITV have done with F1 so it's doubtful that the BBC will now offer a poorer show.

It would be a shame to lose the practice sessions after ITV just started broadcasting them. Curious how ITV launch this new service just one week before claiming they're basically happy to have got rid of F1 from their tv stations.

Question is, how long does ITV have a contract to show the practice sessions?

Maybe they somehow got that deal in order to p!ss off the BBC as they knew the live show was disappearing anyway. Or maybe the BBC don't want it. That part is interesting.

I would be amazed if BBC don't show qualifying though.

And I too remember the woeful BBC coverage of the past - but come on people...I would go on holiday in Europe 12 years ago (or slightly more than that as a proper little kid) and F1 coverage in all the countries I visited was equally as crap if not worse.

Man....you'll be able to hear F1 fans across the country let out a huge cheer when the first few notes of that bass guitar line come in...

I've been watching some old recordings of BBC F1 highlights from Granstand of the 1984 season and I love it when the Chain starts up (with the camera positioned over an F1 car in pieces that suddenly become attached to the car - bad 1980's special effects).

Not just Moody, I`d take Mamola also and the third guy.
So far the best commentary I heard in a long time - and they are funny too.

P.S. Do you remember when ITV’s F1 coverage was sponsored by one of the major British newspapers? I don’t even remember which one it was, but we had a series of films in which people didn’t bother to look up from their papers when a Formula One car had apparently shot past. That says it all about ITV’s coverage - I’d rather read the paper....

Yeah but there is one massive big difference between when BBC had it then and the state of TV today.
Digital TV or to be more precise, we have

BBC1
BBC2
BBC3
BBC4

I'm sure that if for any reason BBC1 can't show race/qualifying then one of the sub channels will be able to pick it up.

Not being the viewer of that brodcast I got really excited about the news. As I somehow believe it can something to do with moving into HDTV...just my hope.

I'm very happy about this.

There has been a lot of criticism about the ITV coverage, but to be fair they bring a great deal to the show that the BBC didn't have the last time around.

Some have said that the coverage was poor on the BBC last time, but the interactive service that they provide through digital now is excellent, and if the free practice has to be via this, I would be more than happy.

You're forgetting BBCi (Red Button) as well, MotoGP often show qualifying on there, also for the Rugby they offer different commentary (TV, National Radio, Local Radio) as options, so you may be able to choose Radio 5 Live commentary if you don't like the main commentators.

Please Sign my Petition for the BBC to use the Chain

http://www.petitiononline.com/bbcchain/petition.html

Please spread the Link

Well, well, well - what splendid news to start the day.

David Coulthard's retirement job sorted out - ho hum - and coverage UNINTERRUPTED by damned commercials. All it requires is Formula 1 itself to become any good.

DCN

I have a hunch Auntie will drop MotoGP to make room for F1. You can imagine Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells moaning about motorsport being on the Beeb every weekend during the season...

The Races will surely be on BBC2 I cant see BBC1 showing Canadian or Brazil GP live in prime time. BBC 3 and 4 also dont start to 7pm and to my knoweldge have never started earlyer then that for anything. It will be a shame to loose practice sessions after we have just got them to.

I kind of expect them to keep up the practice sessions on the web. What is for sure, though, is that the 'new' BBC coverage will not bear any relation to the 'old' - BBC programmers and sports bods are no fools. They'll pinch the good stuff from the ITV coverage and try a few new things I would expect.

I bet they'll keep MotoGP, that's what BBC2 is for. MotoGP and F1 rarely clash. Then the BBC has both the World Championship motorsport events.

Moto GP can do what it likes. F1 is where it's at.

People who think the BBC coverage will be better are in for a shock of their life.

1) do you really think BBC will spend 2 and a half hour + to to do a proper coverage of F1. It will just be a quick in and out job. no pre and post race coverage.

2) do you really think the fia/fom will allow brundle to continue commentating after what he has said about them?

3) i doubt they will show the free practices online, but even if they do, bbc is notorious for blocking off international viewers and their system is hard to bypass.

Well with the UK switching to digital tv theres (i think) 3 other channels which are sometimes used to show motogp + tennis, etc so im thinking they might use these to show the practice sessions.

Yes, if you watch the BBC's coverage of other sports, they very much do proper coverage with pre and post race features (see MotoGP)


If they were that upset with Brundle they would have acted by now. This is just no longer an issue.

The BBC website is one of the most popular websites on planet earth, I'm sure they will do a good job. Sheesh. THIS IS GOOD NEWS.

The BBC easily have the resources to match this...they have a lot more money than ITV and their sports department even more so. Aren't ITV struggling financially?

If you compare some sports where ITV/BBC both have rights it's pretty apparent the BBC is better. For example, BBC does a much better job with Six Nations rugby than ITV did for the World Cup. BBC does far better with the FA Cup and England football than ITV does for the Champions League. And lordy lordy is Match of the Day better than the Premiership.

BBC doesn't really have the money or the remit as a public service broadcaster to cover every single event (which is why practice will be available via the red button or whatnot) but for a single event I'd take them against anybody, including Sky.

90% of ITV's pre-show content has been utter garbage. If the BBC do a nice 15-20 min build up, that owuld be perfect

2) do you really think the fia/fom will allow brundle to continue commentating after what he has said about them?

Yes, I do, The FIA have no control over who commentates. It would, I imagine, be a legal issue if they tried to.

Good. I pay a licence fee. Someone outside the UK doesn't. I should be able to watch the BBC feeds, people outside the UK shouldn't - they have not paid for them. I have.

Doug

1) Presumably they got the job because Ecclestone felt the broadcasting could be done better, not worse.

2) Yes, just as he's commentating this year.

3) No different from ITV then. BTW, blocking off international viewers will no doubt be contractually specified by Ecclestone - he'll want to do similar deals with other broadcasters, after all.

1. Yes since they do a half hour of buildup and a half hour of postgame for the Six Nations, even under some pressure from the Hyacinth Buckets of the world that the BBC were showing 9 consecutive hours of live sport.

2. No.

3. They will, and do you pay the licence fee? No? So why should I care? Go watch it in your own country.

Yes trouble is the BBC schedulers don't understand what viewers want they have a long history of playing around with schedules at short notice especially for the flagship programs that have big but loyal "cult" audiences , in the last week they have played with the scheduled times and days of big audience shows like "Ashes to Ashes" and "Torchwood" .

BBC Sports News Web site has very interesting comment by Murray Walker

"It's an amazing development because I think ITV did and do a superb job, and I think there is more to this than meets the eye."

For full text see http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/7306123.stm

1 - Did you see the six nations rugby - based on that you're wrong
2 - Possible - i would hope not though
3 - ITV did this with the online stuff last week - that's FOM and any broadcaster will do as they're told. Geographic restrictions are standard across TV, DVDs etc - hardly the BBC's fault.

Ben

You know, I try to give BB's the benefit of the doubt but this FIA/FOM/Brundle/The Times conspiracy is just too much.

I actually punched the air a little when I read the article

Hallelujah! Finally the gods have realised that ITV were terrible. Martin Brundle is worth hanging on to but the others I'd be happy to see disappear.

1. They did in the past. Remember, when the Beeb had the coverage we actually got the Press Conference live straight away, not pre-recorded a few minutes before. And they also had pre-race coverage too.

2. They would have no choice in the matter.

3. I agree with the poster above. We license fee payers have paid for it, why the hell should anyone who hasn't paid get it?

I am living outside the UK for the next 10 months and I still pay my licence at home. What about me

I don't think the six-nations coverage was that great - there was too much concentration on ex-players prattling on the touchlines and too much focus on England.

The BBCs coverage of F1 was pretty crap for a long time and then only got their act together when it looked like they wound lose it - how many times was coverage limited to a highlights show late on Sunday evening for example?

Andy

Yeah but is that Brundle doing it all on his own, or being briefed beforehand "We need you to cover X, Y and Z".

I love the gridwalks, but to be honest most drivers are so reclusive/protected these days it's hardly worth him bothering.

Apparently ITV is in year 3 of a 5 year deal. There was a cancellation clause for 2008 which has apparently been used. Very interesting development! I'm sure it's for the best, but there's more to it than meets the eye.

I hope TSN will purchase the BBC feed!

Yes, that'd be good.

1) Yes they will, because it will no doubt be a stipulation of the contract. Bernie wants MORE F1, not less. He'd have left it at ITV otherwise.

2) Yes, because Bernie wants MORE F1, not less. He will hopefully realise that the best part of ITV-F1's coverage and not put any silly blockades on his hiring. Besides, I'm sure that's illegal somehow.

3) Don't really care. BBC is the British Broadcasting Corporation, paid for by British citizens via the license fee. I pay for it, so I get it. If someone else isn't paying, why should they suck up all the bandwidth?

Yep.

I have Setanta Ireland and their F1 coverage is strictly Ireland only. They show the practise sessions as well as GP2 every race weekend and it's like being at the track only with my comfy couch too.

1) yes they will,as bernie will have probably stipulated in the contract a minimum length of time the show has to be on air for

2) well they havent stopped him commentating for itv have they?so they wont stop him from commentating for the bbc,if they really wanted to stop him commentating he wouldnt still be commentating at itv now

3) itv only allow people in britain to see the online practice etc,the bbc would be right to do the same,after all why let some randomers halfway round the world have access to it when its the UK citizens that pay for the bbc,its websites etc etc,people in other countries don't,so they don't deserve to be able to piggyback onto the bbc online coverage

The issue of Martin Brundle is all out of hand.

He can't be stopped commentating for the simple reason that ITV or the BBC could choose to employ him to commentate from his own living room at home if they choose to do so.

The only potential threat against Martin Brundle there has ever been is the case against the newspaper he is involved with and the threat that he may not have received media acreditation to gain access to the paddock this season.

As we have all seen he clearly got his media pass as he has been seen live at the trackside in Melbourne.

Whether he got the pass with any degree of difficult and jumping through hoops is irrelevant - he has it.

Jeez, hands up how many people didn't actually realise that Murray Walker and James Hunt were, for 99% of the time, never even in the country where a race was being held.

The BBC's commentary during the 70's and 80's was done from a studio in London. It was laughable because they frequently lost the picture but the viewers at home still had it, and their efforts to pretend they were at the race were hysterical. As soon as the picture was lost they didn't have a clue what was going on.

bring back the classic tune!! with sparks flying of the cars heeeeh

i like to see martin but maybe ben edwards too! i really like that chap and he is underrated but he did a GREAT job for eurosport in the 90's when they had f1 coverage (in those days we had warm up on sunday which was great)

BBC has a lot more media things and i love there website easy to use etc. and they have other digital channels to spread the coverage!! and no adverts! how many times ahve we missed qualy laps and vital overtakings in a race

How about getting Murray back in as a trackside pundit! Ben Edwards and Martin Brundle commentating with Jonathan Palmer alongside Murray in the studio. Bye, bye Blundell and Allen!

Bring back Fleetwood Mac - The Chain!!!
No more adverts!!! Yeah!!!

And please.... let it be Ben Edwards and Martin Brundle ... Please!

Haha that would be absolute gold. Anne Guintini I think her name was, it would be welcome catharsis for Ferrari fans seeking release from the Hamilton love fest the rest of the broadcast would contain. And Bira seeking comment from Ron Dennis after the race...interesting ;)



Damn straight!

does anyone know if ben edwards in contract for next year something else? i guess the opportunity to do F1 he would drop whatever he is doing. BBC HAS TO HAVE HIM IN THERE COVERAGE

i have none of this nostalgia for a faux golden-age of bbc coverage.

i was there, middle of the night, waiting for the over-running golf to finish to catch 25 minutes of grainy, telephoned-audio highlights of a grand prix.


the only hope is that the BBC was so desperate to get one of the "crown jewels" back that bernie was able to screw them into the floor with regards to the contract stipluations and mandatory levels of coverage.


sure stick some old fleetwood mac on at the front, that's an easy populist move to make ... but after that, then what? i have zero confidence in the workings of BBC Sport editorial, or their presentation abilities, or of the neccessary committment of network scheduling.

i was surprised at the commitment that ITV held to their levels of coverage, but they had an commercial and shareholder obligation to maintain and maximise the value of their investment ... there is no such obligation on the BBC, and if it becomes inconvenient, F1 will be trimmed, squeezed and shunted around without any undue consideration.

even money bet, give it a couple of years, this place will be full of misty eyed reminiscences of ITV coverage.

Great news no more adverts! OK ITV only really screwed it up once but it was enough.

Bring back the chain.

No more James Allen.



Definately some valid points here. I dont think we'll see the long build up. Maybe Half an hour. Quite often though the build up features can be quite tedious.

Hopefully BBC can come to some sort of interactive agreement with Bernie to provide at least two onboards or something. Maybe half way to the old PPV service.

The fact that this seems a decision out of ITVs hands is very interesting. ITV would never give up their contract early as lewis mania and huge viewing figures are peaking (Brazil 07 was ITVs biggest ever).

Personally I think Bernie has read the forums and realised how many people want Allen out and the BBC back in along with some clever BBC ideas tempting him. Surely they cant pay as much as ITV?

I hope the BBC gaffers know enough about F1 not to get Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell mixed up...
...otherwise we could end up with Brundle being fired and Blundell as lead commentary...

My dream team would be Ben Edwards taking the Murray Walker/Allen role with Martin Brundle continuing on as resident expert. I agree with those who say fewer presenters, less PR-puffery and QUALITY would be better and don't necessarily think less spend woud lead to an inferior show. Just get rid of some deadwood i.e.

Allen, Blundell and Goodman HAVE TO GO!!!! (in that order)

I am a bit concerned about how this all came about though. Bernie recently said that the turmoil of last year distracted him from the business of improving the F1 show and he has also talked about a fresh marketing push. I would like to think that Bernie decided to change to BBC because the no-ads format improves the show. Maybe the poster who pointed out that a lot of ad revenue could now be re-diverted into trackside/team promotion.

However I do fear there are more sinister reasons. Getting rid of Brundle might be the icing on the cake for Bernie...

Shame DC ruled himself out of the job with his potty mouth in Australia!