THE Formula One world has woken up to the shock news this morning of a broadcasting bombshell which will see the sport move to pay-per-view TV from the 2012 season onwards. Current contract holders, the BBC will share the rights with sports powerhouse Sky Sports for the next six years. However, fans who want to watch all 20 F1 events next year will have to pay for a Sky subscription, as only BSKYB will screen live coverage of all the events. The BBC will screen half the races and qualifying live, including the jewel in the crown races of Monaco and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Earlier this year, there was talk of a takeover of the sport by media mogul Rupert Murdoch and News Corp. The BBC had been considering axing their service (due to run out in 2013) thanks to budget cuts, so for both broadcasters, the deal seems to fit well. However, the deal has enraged fans and the F1 teams alike;
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Bernie Ecclestone told BBC Sport this morning; “It’s super for F1. It will mean a lot more coverage for the sport. There’ll be highlights as well as live coverage on two different networks now, so we get the best of both worlds.” BBC’s lead commentator Martin Brundle is believed to be considering his future, as he used Twitter to express his frustrations; “BBC/Sky/F1 2012+. Found out last night, no idea how it will work yet I’m out of contract, will calmly work through options. Not impressed.”
The new broadcasting partnership will include;
- All races, qualifying and practice sessions live on Sky Sports across TV, Online, Mobile and Tablet devices.
- Half the races and qualifying sessions remain live on BBC TV, Online and Mobile including key races such as the British Grand Prix, Monaco Grand Prix and the final race of the season.
- Extensive BBC highlights on TV, Online and Mobile, of all races and qualifying sessions that the BBC is not covering live.
- Extensive multi-platform coverage including BBC Red Button, bbc.co.uk/sport and skysports.com.
- Build-up coverage of each Grand Prix on BBC News, Sky News and Sky Sports News.
Sky’s managing director Barney Francis is delighted with the deal; “This is fantastic news for F1 fans and Sky Sports will be the only place to follow every race live and in HD. We will give F1 the full Sky Sports treatment with a commitment to each race never seen before on UK television. As well as unrivalled build-up to each race on Sky Sports News, we will broadcast in-depth live coverage of every session.
The teams are said to be shocked by this decision made by FOM boss Ecclestone. Managing director of McLaren and head of FOTA, Martin Whitmarsh urges those upset to be calm before jumping to conclusions. He told Autosport.com; “I don’t think anyone should be immediately reacting to say this is good, bad, or indifferent. What we need to understand is whether the large audience we currently enjoy in Formula One will be maintained. I think we also need to understand exactly how this is being done.”
On his website, former ITV lead commentator James Allen sympathised with the fans, but felt the deal was on the cards. “Many fans will be unhappy at the idea of having to pay Rupert Murdoch, one of the main shareholders in Sky and its driving force, in order to watch F1, especially in the current climate with the entire goings on at the News of the World. This is a typically bold deal by Murdoch and a strong forward move in the teeth of adversity. To me, it feels like’s it’s been coming for some time. F1 fans will provide new cash flow to the Sky coffers, in a business which always needs to generate new lifeblood.”
Ultimately, although some will see it as a sensible deal and both broadcasters happy, it seems to have left a gaping hole with many Grand Prix fanatics this morning.
MY VIEW
When I woke up this morning and saw the news on my phone via the BBC Sport website, I felt like throwing up. Why has Bernie Ecclestone broken a promise he made! In reality, it’s a simple answer, money. Consequently, it makes Ecclestone and Rupert Murdoch perfect bedfellows. All the pair care about is money, not the feelings of its viewers, readers or fans.
We’ve been here before and Bernie should know that. His F1 Digital+ platform on the pay-per-view Sky service for the 2002 season epically failed. It was scrapped after one nightmare campaign, so I’m surprised he has decided to go back down an already failed experiment. The general consensus from the teams is that they are unimpressed, with Martin Whitmarsh referring this morning to the complex Concorde Agreement and saying it could be seen as a breach in the regulations. Consequently, I don’t see the dust settling on this one quickly.
I understand that the BBC has to make license cuts. They are scrapping the Football League, cutting back on Wimbledon coverage and might ditch Athletics coverage altogether, but why tamper with F1. It might been expensive, but eight million tuned into last Sunday’s German Grand Prix, BBC’s highest viewing figures for an F1 event since 1996. There was talk that Channel 4 was seriously interested in F1 and with ITV not wanting to bid for the rights again, why did Bernie not stick with the terrestrial route full-time, especially if the BBC wanted to ditch F1?
For me, I can’t afford Sky Sports and even if I could, I wouldn’t pay Rupert Murdoch a penny, let alone his pathetic subscription fees! I have to deal with Premiership Football being on pay-TV and I can’t believe my second sporting love is heading in the same direction. What’s more, following the phone-hacking scandal, how the hell can News International bid for anything? Is Bernie Ecclestone blind, stupid or both! News Corp have been dragged through the mire, with further revelations set to come and Murdoch has screwed a lot of normal people for years, maybe even decades.
I am furious, upset, disgusted and bewildered by today’s events and I bet I’m not the only one. Unfortunately, it is done and nothing can be done now. Murdoch and Ecclestone haven’t made many friends down the years and they’ve made more enemies today. If they want to annoy sponsors and reduce the viewing figures, be my guest!
Thanks for listening and thanks very much Rupert and Bernie!
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