Well after how many years I finally figured out why Demon Tweeks' hold music has been the same for over a decade. (I'm in Canada)

We're still going to be getting the same ropey old live FIA feed that we got from ITV, except that its costing a couple of hundred million quid of tax payers money. The BBC licence fee shouldn't be used to subsidise jobs in niche industry, and if it was you would be hard pressed to come up with a more uneconomic example.
I'd rather the BBC spent the money o what it does well, Dramas, news documentaries, that commercial sector doesn't do well, and let the commercial sector provide the popular sports. That MP is also correct in that F1 is hardly a sport anymore anyway.

I would have been happy if the BBC had got the rights for a decent price but by all reports they haven't.

But all reports also showed that to all intents and purposes ITV dropped the Formula One coverage. No matter what the 'Lewis Effect', Formula One is never, ever going to compete with live football, and nor should it. I believe the TV rights for England home internationals and FA Cup matches came up to roughly half a billion pounds for ITV, and it's unreasonable to suggest that they should somehow be able to find the money to also pay for the F1, which while substantially cheaper (~£50m IIRC) would appear not to be affordable. Most likely the complains raised by the Labour MP also figured somewhere in the mind of Michael Grade...

Bernie was so happy about the deal because Formula One would otherwise have switched to pay-TV, leaving his carefully-constructed No. 1 motorsport with a status in this country similar to A1GP. Whether the BBC overspent on the rights is another question, but so long as they're spending similar sums on amorphous disc-jockeying cretins whose sole apparent purpose is to introduce playground slang into mainstream discourse, it's hardly a major issue IMO.

to Bernie, though, on deflecting attention to the BBC when by all measures it was his product that was very nearly dropped by terrestrial TV in its own backyard.

Last week in Melbourne, the ITV commentators in deep discussion - "eh James...there's something I have to tell you..."



I do hope Brundle moves to the BBC aswell. And both he and James were in some deep discussion during their P3 work around the track.

Its not paid through tax payers money, its TV license holder money and I doubt it's going to go up as a result of showing the F1.

the tv license is a tax, and a poll-tax at that, and you can end-up going to jail for not paying ... irrespective if you use the bbc services or not ... bit severe.

that the clowns at bbc sport ineptly paid way over the odds does not surprise ... anyone who has had any dealings with the profiligate and wasteful state corporation will already understand their almost criminal disregard for other people's money.

200mill is a lot of pensioners and single mums.

The BBC provide the best original and independant programming in the World along with the most comprehensive website. I think it's a bargain and now they have the F1 I would happily pay the license fee for their channels only and get rid of sky and itv. Only thing Id miss is channel 4.

Considering the BBC haven't announced what they paid for it or indeed any other sport, how do you know that the BBC are paying so much for it?

The point is clear that ITV, for whatever reason, needed rid of F1 and fast. Probably down to Michael Grade.

Bernie therefore needed someone to take it on, and that's why he approached the BBC. Don't forget the BBC's statement in which they clearly state Bernie approached them to take it on.

After all, on UK terrestrial who else is going to take it on?

I can't see Channel4 taking it, they're too interested in constantly broadcasting shows about Al Quieda and people born with 9 arms and 2 heads to show anything that isn't considered subversive and dangerous (even though things that try and provoke shock on purpose are neither of the above - tip to Channel4: shock by mistake is more effective than contrived shock).

The only other people are Channel5 - and don't make me laugh about those guys. They only ever used to show bargain bucket USA sports like basketball and CART that no other channel wanted, and they lost them years and year ago. Channel5 barely even exists.

No way would Bernie even bother putting in a cursory telephone call to either of the above.

So that leaves the BBC.

For all we know we licence-fee payers may be getting an amazing deal on the F1. Somebody had to take it, perhaps for the first time in his life Bernie was the person being screwed and the BBC got it for relatively nothing.

And it depends what channel they show it on. It won't be one of their cable channels, that's for sure, but nobody knows yet if it'll be on BBC1 or BBC2. If it's going to BBC2 they'll have paid even less money for it as that's not their main station.

Yes mate, except that the FIA don't produce the feed, local broadcasters do it all. ITV produce more than one of the races during a season.

For several years in a row they have won the award for best broadcaster for their production of the British GP feed.

At least in that respect the BBC have a lot to live up to.

The BBC's turn at being a local broadcaster will come up next year....

Yes, a lot of tv viewers !!

Flipping heck, not being funny mate but pensioners do basically nothing except go to the bingo or sit in front of the TV all day anyway!

Single mum's likewise have a lot of time indoors on their hands...

That 200m is over five years also so 40m a year. Less than a pound a year per head of population out of the £140 a year license fee. Its alot of money but its not going to affect the license fee.

I don't think anyone here has picked up on the real reason that Bernie went to the BBC....HD Broadcasts.

simple as that....

ps: Stop the Cock!

I think you are talking out of your arse :mad:What data have you got to back that up apart from your prejudice?

I made a comment about it in one of the HD f1 threads.

Four grandparents and a string of kids I left behind with their mothers.




Seriously though - look you don't even have to think of it as single-parents (that wasn't my example, I commented on it). You could say housewife if you want.

But let's look seriously at that situation - take a look at the Monday to Friday daytime tv schedules.

What do they say to you? Do you think they are aimed at male and female pensioners and females at home (whether single-mothers or housewives) or do you think they are aimed at professional thirty-somethings who are out at work from 8am to 7.30pm every day?

I get days off from work. I've seen daytime TV! I can absolutely 100% assure you that as a 32 year old male in full time employment I am most certainly not the demographic that daytime TV is aimed at.

I was wondering if I will be able to see F1 on the BBC in Belgium. We normally get BBC1 and 2, but I heard something about blocking- does anyone here know more about that?

It would really make my day if I could recieve the BBC broadcast- I have warm memories of the Murray Walker/ James Hunt days in particular. Those where the days! I didn't mind Brundle, but nothing will ever beat Hunt's dry wit combined with Murray "my pants are on fire" Walker. I have faith in the BBC when it comes to finding worthy successors, though.

Formula 1 back on BBC from 2009
it's an interesting news for me, because I think the ITV is one of the better 'F1 Television' in the world:S

Catchpole,
Thank you for that extremely well crafted assessment.

Elwing,
I am fairly sure that if you can see any of BBC's Sport (MOTD, World Cup or Olympics) content you will likely see F1 there too
You have a myriad of viewing options for F1 anyway like RTFB, een, Canvas and La Deux. Can't see them breaking any exclusivity deal.

Gerry, Great shots!!!! Martin watching the ROO while car flashes past

Jp

He went to BBC first because he wants F1 to be FTA and available to the widest audience. He could have gone to SKY since they are the leaders in HD at the moment in the U.K.

the end of the last BBC formula one broadcast is on youtube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vKIohaQpMI . Now that brings back some memories! I sure missed them!

great! thank you!

Ayrton the best great video, thank you

This year, FOM will be producing the broadcast at 16 of the 18 races.

Ah, didn't know that.

That's interesting as it should hopefully remove the usual bias applied by local directors.

Having said that, the FIA may still focus on certain drivers to ensure their sponsors get good value. I did actually notice over this weekend there has been a lot of focus on the BMW Saubers and tons of onboards from those cars, particularly Heidfeld. As that a coincidence with Petronas being a long-time sponsor of the team?

Fan Intro for 2009 using updated The Chain version ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwVVAr5UbHQ

Another one using ITV montage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDv9w7KnAfI&feature=related

I hope they keep "the Chain" but update it- like they did with the "Top Gear" intro a few years ago. The remix that's in that video is pretty horrid...But with the budget the Beeb has they should be able to do something half decent.

No adverts with Australians stealing shadows.

we enjoyed that over here. hadn't seen that one before.
very clever. wish we seen that ad before the 4 days of 40' heat at melb track last week, would've given us
some new ideas.

Okay, make us Brits jealous. I am looking at snow out my window.

I want to ride my motorbike over easter, but thats a no-no.

Promising news regarding HD coverage on Freeview - a switch from QAM16 to QAM64 multiplexing will free up space for HD channels:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a929...reeview-hd.html

"The reorganisation will take place region by region in tandem with the analogue switch-off process, beginning with Granada next year.

Once multiplex B is cleared, it will be converted to use DVB-T2, an improved version of the existing digital terrestrial transmission specification. The high definition services it will carry will be compressed using MPEG-4, a more efficient version of the MPEG-2 standard currently used across the rest of the platform."

I think this means HD could be coming post-switchover, so fingers crossed for the 2012 season!

So do people still want Brundle at BBC after his performance at Bahrain?

Overreaction? Possibly?

Ffs he makes one bad call based on what Alonso has done on two previous occasions, plus his well-documented efforts to deliberately hinder Hamilton in the past, and all of a sudden that's a near-sackable offence? Ideally I'd want a third guy in the box alongside Brundle and Edwards/Croft/whoever, but Martin's still by far the best option available. And maybe the move to the BBC will shear him of some of the forced Hamilton-love ITV appear to insist on.

There seemed to be a lot of focus on the bmw's again this week, so im assuming it's because the director know what he is doing!

but yeah, i do think they will still focus on local aspects. It's needed for the sport as well, everyone needs their fair share of coverage and if Super Aguri can atleast guarantee a sponsor 5 minutes of air time at the japanese grand prix then that has got to be a good thing.

Not after yesterday's performance, I want Antonio Lobotomy in the chair.

Brundle probably knows more about Alonso's exploits at MAC than any of us but it doesn't excuse his bias. I think he's still very good, though.

Agreed and I think that Allen was pumping Brundle to an extent to make a Lewis story. I still didn't enjoy the jingoism though :\

I didn't see the race (I was working at the LMS race) but I caught the clip on the website of Button hitting Coulthard - it was rather worrying that Brundle appeared to completely miss the fact that Button had clearly lost the rear of the car and wound on a load of opposite lock before hitting DC.

Ben

North One bids to produce BBC F1 coverage

Jp

This is rather worrying, the only saving grace is that Blundell and Allen were ignored in the BAFTA speech whereas Brundle was given glowing praise. Hopefully there'll still be a presenting change if not an editorial one. I fear it may be a case of plus ca change.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

We want a sea-change, not window dressing! North One

glad I wasn't the only one who noticed that like. There's this "awesome" comment by allen in the autosport.com news report.



yuhuh.

That was possibly the only race where I have been glad for a break, after kubica's crash I just didn't want to watch, yet felt totally compelled. Other than that I can't remember anything about it, apart from the 50000 safety cars.

A bit of a disengenuous comment by The Cock there.

It's common knowledge that ITV ditched F1 to fund their bid for Champions League coverage. While the powers that be would love to hang onto the ABC1 audience that F1 brings in, they know full well that the viewing figures are still poor - even with Lewis Hamilton they've only climbed back to 2001 levels - still down on the 'glory days' of casual interest back in 1997-99.

Champions League will bring in a steady revenue even though ITV are the junior partner in their deal with Sky. It's been reported that ITV will only get one match per week and that (I think) only on a Wednesday - so tough titty if any English clubs are playing on a different day.

Of course Allen, being a Liverpool supporter would know nothing about ITV's coverage of football.

To be totally honest I dont mind James Allen, infact I quite like him, he makes mistakes yeah, but so did Murray Walker and we all loved him. Allens Motorsport knowledge is quite substantial he isnt just some guy off the street as some here seem to think.
It almost seems like a witch hunt here, one person says he is a cock, then another, and then it just snowballs and perception becomes reality.

I for one love the cock, as unpopular as that may be.

People hoping for a fundamental change in the tone and style of UK F1 TV coverage look like they may be disappointed. How much the BBC itself can substantially influence the coverage remains to be seen.

As long as Martin Brundle is involved, I am hopeful.

Its unedited people!

On a semi ( ) serious note Allen does get a rough ride from the mob mentality on boards like these regarding his cockness.

Whos to say with different presenters and creative directors North One cant still do a good job for the BBC?

Maybe its part of the BBCs fair bidding policy?

Being a bit more proactive in my moaning, which other sports production groups would you like to see doing F1 coverage?

I've always liked ITV4's Tour de France coverage (produced by Sunset + Vine), it hits a good balance between irreverence and still being informative. My dream line up would be:
Presenter - Gary Imlach (from the TdF coverage above)
Pundit - Tony Jardine (I never appreciated him enough when he was there)
Lead Commentator - David Croft (great on 5live, deserves a bigger stage)
Expert - Martin Brundle (obviously)
Pitlane - James Allen (let him indulge his pitstop strategy obsession)

Agreed. Allen should be made to don the bangles and blonde wig to replace Louise Goodman chasing the hapless DNFers around the garages.

couldn't stop myself laughing at this can you imagine james when a critical pitstop goes wrong screaming "OOOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOOOO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LEWIS HAS STALLED NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
MY BABY LEWIS NOOOOOOOOO"