Hopefully we can try to limit the updates a bit.

I am hoping that we can let you all know early next week our commentary line up for practice, qualy and the race in Bahrain...

Some interesting guests!

BBC Red Button details for first few races
Bahrain Grand Prix weekend
- Classic F1: TBA
- Murray Walker's Preview: 18:00 on 10/03 until 10:10 on 13/03. Not available on Freeview.
- Practice 1: 06:55 on 12/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Practice 2: 10:55 on 12/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Practice 1 and 2 replay: 12:35 on 12/03 until 07:55 on 13/03. Not available on Freeview.
- Inside F1: 22:30 on 12/03 until 10:10 on 13/03. Not available on Freeview.
- Practice 3: 07:55 on 13/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Qualifying: 10:10 on 13/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Qualifying replay: 12:30 on 13/03 until 11:10 on 14/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview between 12:30 and 14:30 on 13/03.
- Race: 11:10 on 14/03. Onboard, Rolling Highlights and Audio Changer available via Red Button. Onboard available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Forum: 14:15 on 14/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Highlights: 15:15 on 14/03 until 12:00 on 20/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview, times various

Australian Grand Prix weekend
- Classic F1: 18:00 on 24/03 until 06:00 on 27/03. Not available on Freeview.
- Murray Walker's Preview: TBA
- Practice 1: 01:25 on 26/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Practice 2: 05:25 on 26/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Practice 1 and 2 replay: 07:05 on 26/03 until 02:55 on 27/03. Not available on Freeview.
- Inside F1: 18:30 on 26/03 until 14:15 on 27/03. Not available on Freeview.
- Practice 3: 02:55 on 27/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Qualifying: 05:00 on 27/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Qualifying replay: 07:15 on 27/03 until 06:00 on 28/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview between 18:00 on 27/03 and 06:00 on 28/03.
- Race: 06:00 on 28/03. Onboard, Rolling Highlights and Audio Changer available via Red Button. Onboard available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Forum: 09:00 on 28/03. Available via Channel 301 on Freeview.
- Highlights: 10:00 on 28/03 onwards.

Thanks DMN.

This bit seems to contradict Jason's understanding about the commentary option for Freeview during the race.

With regards to Malaysia, it seems like the coverage will be changing onto BBC2 at 10am. According to DMN on other forum, BBC1 on Easter Sunday usually has the Pope's Easter message at 10, and then something else related to that at 11. Well done Bernie, having a race on Easter Sunday, very clever. BBC should've just stuck either the full race programme onto BBC2, or stuck the Pope's Easter message on there (with all due respect, who wants to hear his message anyway, people can just read what he says on the internet, or listen on the radio). So it seems like pre race and the 1st hour of the race (which starts at 9am) will be on BBC1, before switching to BBC2 for the last hour or so of coverage. Can't say I'm particularly impressed if it's true.

Great! so we have to have our viewing interrupted by the leader of an organisation which has covered up for the largest pedophile ring in history.

song request:

happy mondays - lazyitis

Oh Jesus Surely showing the whole race on BBC2 would make much more sense.

To be honest DMN's detailed schedule is probably a better guide than my guesses but I will double check.

I can say though that the practice sessions are on 301, and there is the alternative commentary option available for every race.

Given that the Freeview bitrates are much lower on Bbc2 than on Bbc1, i'd much rather watch half the race in higher quality and have to change channel, than watch the whole thing in lower quality.
Pressing a button and having on coverage for about a second isn't a big deal.

That's not a case of me being lazy, so no need for that comment. My point is more that it'd make a damn sight more sense to either shove the Easter stuff on BBC2, or show the whole F1 programme on BBC2, rather than switching partway through the race. Looking at some rating that DMN posted for Easter 2008, a grand total of 1.5m watched the 2 Easter things at 10 and 11, which begs the question really 'why stick it on BBC1?', especially when you consider that 10/11am time people are all off to church anyway, so won't even see it.

Sod the Pope's message, we want F1!

cheer up its only pressing one button!

Jenson Button 1 hour special on today.

Well, if you want to call it that. It's just the same season review we got 1 week after the end of the season.

Ahhh I wondered if it was something along those lines.

BBC F1 Preview show now showing on BBC Red Button!

Just watched it... v. good.

I can't see it on freeview

Wasn't on for long then? Not on now on channel 301.

Should be on website first thing tomorrow.

It is on Sky and Virgin platforms, though.

Okay thanks.

They all said lewis would beat Jenson

Looking forward to be able to put The Chain on LOUD again!

Good preview! I get the sense that even they are underestimating Red Bull whereas there is a possibility they could walk away with 2010.

Was there any notice of this preview? And why not show it on normal telly instead of the 09 review?

According to Jake they're "daily preview shows". He also says there are extra stats during the races, anyone know what they will include?

I'm guessing (and this is a guess!) that BBC have persuaded Formula One Management to let them have access to the 'Data' feed, which includes full live timing.

Thank you BBC for the daily previews! *bows*

If they are being done everyday and presented by Jake, what is one going to go along the lines of? "We're here... 35,000 feet up in the air on the way to Sakhir"

Mightily impressed that while you're all watching some preview show, all I have is an EastEnder's quiz. Not quite the same.

Same

Legard said on his Twitter that it'd be on 301 tomorrow morning. Besides the fact that it seems like that they'll be many more mini editions!

My TV guide says otherwise

What ^ he said.

Make me the 3rd. I checked my EPG.

"Hoof and Safety with Nuzzle and Scratch" it says, whatever the hell that is.




it wouldn't surprise me if legard was wrong....

The beeb are not doing a good job of informing us what will be on here.... these previews appear to be unannounced, and why the hell are they not on 301 god knows. Stop using my license money to make stuff for Sky!!!

The previews are much better on 301 than some Eastenders or Kiddies quiz thing. BRING BACK 302!!

Perhaps that's what Legard meant.

The link(s) you sent me don't appear to work? Throws up some 'hotlinking NO!' image?

OK, it appears you need to register to said forum then and make 20 posts.

Damn straight

Jason, is there any way the sound quality can be improved on the red button alternative commentary? With Radio 5 live being broadcast on digital, does the red button get this feed or FM because it's never as sharp as the TV commentary? The race sounds are also very quiet and muffled, so you do lose a bit of atmosphere.

Nay problem.

Are we missing much, really?

I got the first question right.. went downhill from that point onwards.

It's all chit chat with the 5... Jake, Jonathan, Eddie, Martin, David. Saying that, I was expecting 10/15 minutes. Instead it was 45 minutes long, so if you're just wanting some F1 analysis to 'pass the time'... then its probably worth a watch.

And Legard occasionally shouting 'BIG PUSH NOW' and EJ reminding us of the fact that he created the greatest ever F1 team and found Schumacher

Do you have a link...


Please?

I got 9/10, only get the question about the Osmans wrong.

Autosport Eastenders Expert?

Damn straight bring back 302

Bloody HD people.



Wow, completely forgot about this!

This is very true, during practice and the first 2 qualy sessions (Which are broadcast on Sports xtra, a digital channel), the sound quality is good, you can hear the FOM feed under the commentator's voices better, but during the race, this gets weakened and it feels like you're missing something.

Small but effective improvement would be made if you could change it Swaylesy!

Don't loose sleep over it.

Hi Alexis and Don,

Good question! The answer is to do with the broadcast technologies we use...

For practice sessions our coverage on the Red Button is sent back to London via the TV OB unit in the TV compound on site at the races. This means it is mixed for television and as such sounds nice and clear on the red button.

For qualy and the race, the red button feed of our commentary is taken from the on air feed of 5 Live Sports Extra or 5 Live, depending on what station we are broadcasting on. Our commentary of qualy and the race is sent back to London via ISDN rather than the TV OB unit. Because 5 Live is broadcast on medium wave we use a lower compression called .G722, this is standard for all 5 Live outside broadcasts. This in itself would sound just as good as the red button feed albeit it in mono rather than stereo on the TV. The audio is then compressed again as it goes through the 5 Live studio before going to air. This does comprimise the quality again.

Having said all that I am going to try mixing the audio differently and experiment with our compression rates to enhance the track audio, so hopefully it will sound better.

I have seen the messages on this forum regarding the difference between the practice audio and the race audio, so I was aware of it and will try to make it better this year.

Cheers,

Jason

Does anyone know if that section of the 2009 review where Jake is sat infront of all the TV screens with the clips is on youtube anywhere?