Sky and BBC to share Formula One

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;

SHARE: EJ and Jake Humphrey will have to share the limelight with Sky

     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!

The end for the News of the World

By Simon Wright (News and personal piece)

CLOSURE: The final edition of the paper will be on Sunday

AFTER 168 years of exposing celebrities, shaming politicians and campaigning for better human rights, this Sunday will see the final ever edition of the News of the World.  Rupert Murdoch has taken the controversial decision to axe the newspaper, in a desperate bid to bury the phone hacking scandal which has dominated news headlines across the world this week.  Some 200 journalists have lost their jobs as a result of the decision taken by News International at its Wapping headquarters, but chief executive of the company, Rebekah Brooks – who was editor of the paper during the scandal, has remarkably held onto her job.  This morning, Andy Coulson – another former editor of the tabloid paper and former press aide in David Cameron’s coalition government was arrested for his role in the phone hacking, as well as allegations into payment to members of the Metropolitan Police.

     The News of the World has come under significant fire for the phone hacking of famous celebrities and politicians already this year.  Film star Sienna Miller, former deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, PR guru Max Clifford and TalkSport radio host Andy Gray were amongst the victims.  Some of these disputes were being settled with significant compensation packages.  However, the twisted events of the last week have led to the downfall of the biggest selling newspaper in the UK. 

      The trouble started when it emerged that the mobile phone of murdered teenager Milly Dowler in 2002 had been hacked into by rogue journalists.  As the days rolled on, more scandals emerged.  Also targeted were the parents of murdered Soham schoolgirls, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks in London – on the eve of the sixth anniversary.  The final death knell was when it emerged that some families of servicemen who fought for the country in Afghanistan, but never came home also had their phones and voicemails listened into.  Police have confirmed that they have had 4,000 complaints of mobile phones being targeted and the scandal is likely to cost News International £120million.  Media regulator OFCOM is investigating News International’s other businesses, including fellow newspapers under the branch; The Sun and The Times.  It also throws the proposed takeover of BSkyB into severe doubt, with culture secretary Jeremy Hunt forced to delay the go-ahead for the bid until September at the earliest.

QUESTIONS: Murdoch has decided to keep his chief executive

     Murdoch was reeling yesterday.  For a man who loves making news, he looked scared as he desperately tried to escape questions from pressing journalists on a golf course in Idaho, USA.  It seems though that under fire Brooks will keep her job as chief executive of the organisation, despite the cost of many other innocent positions.  Labour leader Ed Miliband, who has criticised David Cameron for his handling of the situation all week, is furious that Brooks still has a job, despite her knowledge of such illegal journalism practices.  He told the Daily Mirror;

     “It’s clearly people power that has forced this decision.  It’s the result of the revulsion that people felt at what happened at the News of the World.  The one person who seems to be staying in her job in chief executive Rebekah Brooks who was the editor at the time Milly Dowler’s phone was hacked.  I don’t think News International can hope to start to move on while she remains in place.” 

     The lawyer for the Dowler family, Mark Lewis is also saddened that those responsible are still in higher positions; “It’s sad that people will end up losing their jobs, but those responsible are still there.”  Current chairman of News International James Murdoch was interviewed by ITN’s political editor Tom Bradby last night.  He gave his full backing to Brooks and insisted he had no choice to announce the pulling of the plug for the paper;

     “The good things the News of the World does has been sullied by behaviour that was wrong.  Indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our company.  The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account, but it failed when it came to itself.”

     Celebrities have used Twitter to express their views on the newspaper’s axing today.  Singer George Michael said; "Today is a fantastic day for Britain.  These beliefs are in no way an excuse for any of my behaviour in recent times.  I was happy to do my time, because I was so ashamed.  But... I believe every individual, whether privileged or the average citizen, deserves the law.  And many of us rich or poor have been denied it by News International.  You gotta have faith in Karma.  Today it's very real. And I hope the families of Milly Dowler and all the others who died...."

     Former editor of the Daily Mirror Piers Morgan lamented the move, although he did slam their actions; “Shocked and saddened by closure of the News of the World.  Scandals of past week indefensible, but has been a great British newspaper."

     Founded in October 1843, the News of the World has an annual circulation of 3million readers today, despite the powers of 24-hour rolling news, social networking sites and the radical growth of the internet.  It is famous for its hard-hitting interviews and massive investigations that send celebrities into a pit of shame.  Some of its most famous moments included the undercover sting that exposed Sven-Goran Eriksson into agreeing to take over as Aston Villa manager in January 2006.  Eriksson, contracted to England at the time announced his departure after the 2006 World Cup finals just days following the ‘fake sheikh’ investigation.  It has also revealed Prince Harry’s experimentation with drink and drugs in 2002 and the spot-fixing involving Pakistan cricketers during last summer’s test series in England.  Unsurprisingly, the News of the World has also had to fight many libel cases.  England footballers Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney have received damages out of court for sleazy stories that made the front page headlines, whilst former FIA president Max Mosley used an invasion of privacy into allegations regarding his private life in March 2008.  Mosley won £60,000 in damages, but lost the battle to change privacy laws in the UK only two months ago.  The News of the World has been underneath Rupert Murdoch’s News International banner since 1969.

MY VIEW

My symphony is with those affected by the disgusting practices

Although the celebrity phone hacking scandal is totally the wrong way to go, the cynics would say that to be famous, you are going to get negative headlines and therefore, these sort of practices.  However, once bereaved families are targeted, it becomes totally indefensible and inexcusable.  The practices are sick and I can’t believe that some rogue journalists would stoop so low to get a story.  Clearly there was no news in the world!  I am very saddened by the whole issue and of course, I have every symphony with the families of Milly Dowler, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, the 7/7 victims and families who have lost their loved ones at war.  For their families to basically go through the whole nightmare in the public eye once again is really sad. 

     I am not saddened by the closure of the News of the World.  Frankly, I felt the paper was full of unproven gossip and garbage.  I already boycotted The Sun anyways, due my anger over their coverage of the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster.  Who I do feel sorry for are the innocent journalists, who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.  However, Rebekah Brooks keeps hers.  It is unbelievable that she can still be backed by News International, especially after being the editor while Milly Dowler’s phone was being hacked into.  How can she sleep at night!  If she had any decent piece of soul in her body then she should do the honourable thing and resign.

     I do hope the BSkyB takeover doesn’t go through either.  Murdoch did introduce the concept of 24-hour rolling news into the UK and has revolutionised English football with the Sky Sports Premiership deal.  Great things for sure, but I don’t think it would be in the audience’s interest for a rogue media organisation to own BSkyB, no matter how viable and profitable it is. 

     Will people miss the News of the World?  Honestly, I don’t think so.  The Today newspaper was the last major paper to get the chop and that was owned by Murdoch in November 1995.  No-one remembers it today.  Rumours are already flying around that The Sun on Sunday will be launched, so it will probably just be same stories, and similar angles with different name.

     If there is a winner this week, it has to be Ed Miliband.  The Labour leader has really managed to show some steel and determination to push for change in the British press industry this week.  Miliband has put David Cameron under pressure and for me; the Prime Minister has not been convincing enough.  If Andy Coulson is charged by police, it puts David Cameron in a very difficult and stressful position.

     Ultimately, one of the main losers will be those studying journalism at colleges and universities.  The Press Complaints Commission code needs a total rework and the new restrictions and ratifications that will come into force will just make the job for journalists even tougher.  Fewer jobs will be around and if any budding journalism student had commonsense, don’t work for Rupert Murdoch!  He doesn’t care about people’s feelings; he’s only after money and that’s all he’s ever thought about.  So, he is the male version of Janine Malloy from EastEnders then!

     It has been a sad and damaging week for the British press industry.  The phone hacking scandal has dragged the reputation of many names in media through the mud and there are many losers in this.  The story won’t go away and is going to drag on for the rest of the year, especially with enquiries and investigations likely to continue.  If News International can ditch a newspaper and think it will solve the problems, they are seriously mistaken!

One more message; RESIGN REBEKAH! YOU’RE A DISGRACE! 

Print, exam, Balestra - A top-notch week

PERSONAL PIECE (By Simon Wright)

ANOTHER week down and one of the best weeks I’ve had of the year so far.  Pressure released from some rather tight shoulders, things finally began to go my way and the spectacular journalism night out less than 24 hours ago has left me buzzing.

FINAL: The front cover of my 12-page magazine

     If you had read last week’s edition, then you will have understood the nightmare I had with Printers Pairs.  On Monday, I went to the library at the University of Northampton to print out my 12-page magazine, based on retro TV (see picture for front cover).  Typically for me, it didn’t run without its problems.  First, the magazine wouldn’t print out, because I was on another student’s username.  Then, my library password had expired, which meant I couldn’t get onto my log-in screen and set-up my Adobe PDF file for printing.  Eventually, I managed to print out three A3 copies, and by accident, one A4 colour booklet copy.  Looking at the final product, I am delighted with how it all came together in the end, after some trials and tribulations.  Of course, I needed some assistance, otherwise I would have been in a major panic and I’m lucky to have that this year, in the form of a strong and very close friendship with Tamika.

      As a group, I do think we all have a strong chemistry.  A lot of us have different interests; different hobbies and some have more eccentric lifestyles than others!  However, it all works out in the end.  What I do know this year is that without the presence of Tamika, I wouldn’t have been as motivated as I have been and maybe, I wouldn’t even be at the University.  Tamika has helped me massively though some very tough situations for me this year, both within University and outside Uni.  She has always been there for me and I am eternally grateful for that.  Without her care and support, I wouldn’t be as strong as I am now.  Monday was another prime example of this.  I know many people who would have just walked away from me and left me to fight my own battles.  Tamika has never done that, and I’m so pleased she has always stuck by me, especially in some trying situations.  True, you do need to show some individual qualities, but to have a strong personality backbone; you need loving support from your friends.  I’m lucky, because I do have three or four very close friends on my course at Uni, as well as my loving family and the ‘Pubbage’ crew back in my hometown, Milton Keynes.  With her hard-working capabilities, together with always being there for support, advice and a good laugh too, Tamika’s friendship will be one of the most positive aspects I will lookback on during my second year at the University of Northampton.    

     Whilst I can never fault Tamika’s reliability as a friend, the lecturers continue to be a total liability.  I’m beginning to feel I should trust Ian Beale from EastEnders more than the useless lecturers.  I don’t want to be too hyper-critical if I can help it, but I am paying over £3,000 a year to attend my degree at the University of Northampton.  I expect top-quality teaching as a result and to say that I and the rest of my course are getting that would be one of the biggest porkies I’ve heard.  England has got more chance of winning the Football World Cup than we have of getting any decent communication.  This week’s episode saw the ridiculous decision taken to move the deadline for the Unique group magazine portfolios by a week, and let us know, two flipping days before it is meant to be handed into the Assignment Office!  The lecturers used the excuse that we all knew and it was made abundantly clear!  So, where’s the evidence?  No-one told me, and also, what is a Log Book?  I mean, they accuse some of us for slacking.  Well, don’t prove that by changing around deadlines without telling us then!  I don’t expect us to be spoon-fed.  After all, we are all grown-ups, but just a little bit of better communication wouldn’t go amiss.  No-one will break their leg if that happened.  It feels like Civil War is breaking out between Lecturers v Journalism Students.  It would be an interesting occasion for Big Fight Live!  Quick, I’d better telephone Rupert Murdoch; he might be able to back a blockbusting knockout victory for the students!  Sometimes, I feel more reliable than the lecturers and I’m not even teaching!  Maybe we should trust Wikipedia more than them.

     Thursday May 12, and its 9.30am.  I have just started my dreaded exam on law and government for journalists.  Then, I come across a term called TWOC!  I’ve have never even heard of that terminology, never!  If someone wants to let me know, send your answers via postcard!  Aside from that stupid term, I felt the two-hour exam went really quickly and went very well.  I got a C last year, from an exam that I thought was easy-peasy, chocolate-squeezy!  I actually thought the 2011 exam was easier still.  Exams have been the death of me in the past.  My brain always froze in an exam hall, and often would spoil a hard year’s work of effort.  Since I screwed up my GCSE’s in 2005, I have worked incredibly hard to sort these issues out and the results seem to be coming together now.  I’m glad I don’t have to do any next year (I hope!), and will always going in feeling butterflies.  However, I felt very confident of doing well and hopefully; the results will prove my confidence.  I’ve always gone into a hall with a bag of nerves, often been ill in the build-up to the exam, not eating much and struggling with irregular sleeping patterns.  Not so this time around, so it was a pleasant change.    

PARTY: With journalism buddies, Shamima, Tom and Richard

     To conclude this personal blog on a happy note and I went out last night into town to make my debut in the Balestra nightclub.  Since Balestra opened just before Christmas 2010, I’ve always been interested to go and experience it.  I’m not a clubbing person and never will be, especially after being attacked on the way home from a night out in Milton Keynes in July 2009.  However, I will bite the bullet and go out occasionally, with the plan to have some drinks, a mad dance, a real laugh and a memorable experience.  This certainly happened last night.  After some pre-drinks at Pennywhistle’s with two of my closest friends, Emily and Rochelle, plus a rather entertaining Jonathan (who I’ve never really seen eye-to-eye with), we headed down town to the club.  I was so thrilled to finally have a night out which saw the large proportion of journalism students out together, partying into the early hours of Friday morning.  It is something we haven’t done enough of and I think that made the experience even more enjoyable.  I have also managed to find a nightclub in Northampton that can match up to my favourite place, which is Oceania in Milton Keynes.  Like I said before, I’m not a regular clubber, but Oceania is the only experience when I’ve come out of a club and gone ‘Wow,’ before last night anyways.  To see people out, who I don’t normally socialise with made it more awesome too.  There were plenty of highlights along the way.  Seeing one of our journalism technicians outside Pennywhistle’s, as we disappeared into the town, Farida complaining that her feet were about to fall off and an Olly Murs lookalike trying to chat up Farida and Tamika in one of the nearby eating establishments after the nightclub experience and frankly, failing absolutely miserably!  Well, some guys just don’t know when to stop!  I got back to my place, exhausted at 3.45am, but having had one of the best nights for ages! 

    More partying next week hopefully, when Uni is wrapped up for another year!  I already know that despite my London work placement and Fuerteventura summer holiday with the family, I am really going to miss my journalism buddies over the lengthy summer break.  LET’S GO OUT ON A HIGH!

The Finishing Straight - Turkey (by HappyDude88)

MELBOURNE was fairly tame, Malaysia gave us a lively indication of the season ahead China was simply sensational.  The return to Europe last weekend gave us another classic event to lookback on, but a familiar feel of events is beginning to develop at the front of the field.

SMILING: Vettel continued his 2011 domination in Turkey

     Once again, Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing completely dominated the entire weekend, and this time, scored maximum points.  Vettel was in a class of one in Istanbul and frankly, no one looked close to him all weekend.  He even had the luxury to make an extra pitstop against the rest of the field and could have won the race by half a minute.  Considering he lost the majority of running on Friday by stuffing his Red Bull heavily into the barriers during wet first practice, it was still staggering to see him destroy the opposition, considering he had at least two hours less track time than anyone else.  Vettel’s dominance is starting to gain a feel of the Michael Schumacher cruise campaigns of 2002 and 2004.  The new smiling assassin of Formula One can be beaten, as proven in China, but it will have to take a massive effort to do so.  You can already start to engrave Vettel’s name on this year’s championship, because I can’t see anyone beating him on a regular basis, unless it is himself of course.

     In Turkey, it was Fernando Alonso and Ferrari who were the closest challengers.  For the fourth successive race, Alonso qualified in fifth position and raced hard on Sunday afternoon, giving Mark Webber a load of food for thought.  Alonso’s first podium of the season will provide a lot of relief to the Scuderia, who have had a disappointing start to 2011 so far.  If they can unlock more potential from the car, then they could match Red Bull on occasional circuits, but it will have to take something special to overhaul the Austrian team from Milton Keynes.  Alonso wins my ‘Driver of the Day’ in Turkey, as he got the maximum out of his equipment and then some more.  It was a determined effort from the Spaniard and one that will rejuvenate his hunger for success.

     The DRS system and the Pirelli tyres dictated the pace of the Turkish Grand Prix.  Four stops were the way to go for most drivers, and even Jenson Button, one of the best drivers in preserving his tyres, was a sitting duck with no grip in the closing stages from his fading rubber.  After the event, even Pirelli admitted that they were disappointed that four pitstops were the prime strategy in Istanbul.  This shows that the Italian manufacturer is still striding for perfection.  It is however giving us some breathtaking racing.  So far, it is very difficult to follow the races in 2011, because strategies and tyre wear are becoming very difficult to forecast.  The unpredictable element behind runaway leader Vettel means that this season is turning into a classic.  The DRS system excelled again in Istanbul, although the FIA probably made the activation point far too early, hence we saw a lot of easy overtaking and not enough skill from the driver.  We probably saw a bit too much of this on Sunday, and it will be interesting to see if Barcelona – normally a track which is almost a no-overtaking zone, provides similar racing.  If so, expect some sweeping changes, because the critics will start claiming ‘Overtaking in F1 is simply way too easy.’

     The improved pace of Mercedes GP has thrown a spanner in the works at the front of the field.  They impressed massively in practice and qualifying, and hinted of a car that is getting closer to the frontrunners.  Unfortunately, they damaged their Pirelli tyres massively in the slightly hotter conditions of Sunday.  It meant that Nico Rosberg had very little weapons in his defence, especially against the likes of Alonso, Webber and Button.  Fifth place was a good result, and Rosberg seemed very happy with this, despite a third place starting position.  I think Mercedes will be disappointed with the overall result.  A podium was on the cards, even if beating Vettel and probably Webber, was almost impossible.  At least one driver from the German team is taking the fight to the frontrunners.  Mercedes don’t want to continue underachieving.

      Speaking of underachieving, Michael Schumacher!  Schumacher looked strong in the early stages of the weekend, but blew his qualifying lap with a mistake at turn one, and then drove like a amateur on raceday.  His attempt to keep Vitaly Petrov back on lap two was a grave misjudgement from a great champion.  The corner had been lost to the aggressive Russian, yet Schumacher still doesn’t know when to give it up.  If he had, Petrov would have had the place, but Michael would still have been in contention for a high points scoring result.  He didn’t and the contact broke his front wing, and wrecked his afternoon.  Seeing him being barged out of the way by the likes of Adrian Sutil, Kamur Kobayashi and former team-mate Rubens Barrichello was a very sorry sight.  After finishing 12^th, Schumacher even admitted he felt ‘no joy’ at the moment.  When the fun stops, the racing must stop too.  Alain Prost walked away at the top of his game, and to a degree, so did Nelson Piquet.  Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve and Kimi Raikkonen didn’t and their reputations suffered as a consequence.  The comeback by Michael was brave, but it hasn’t worked out.  I think it is best for the seven-time world champion to walkaway and as soon as he can.  At 42, the glory days of his career are just a distant dream.  No-one can take away Schumacher’s achievements and of course, those controversial moments.  He will always be known as one of the greats of all-time in Grand Prix history, but he is never going to return to those days, and that’s a fact.  When the joy stops coming, the motivation goes and so, there’s little hope of getting that back. 

PROBLEMS: Dodgy pitstops stalled McLaren's progress

     For McLaren, the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix can only be described as a very average weekend.  Different strategies for their drivers didn’t work out, and with two shocking pitstops, the dreams of a podium finish vanished for both Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.  Nevertheless, the pair gave the crowd some wild moments in the early exchanges, as they battled royally for position, just as had in the closing stages of the 2010 event.  Button had a resigned look on his face all weekend, and that disappointed me.  He seemed to be down in the dumps for most of the event, and I couldn’t put my finger on it.  Hamilton had a smile all throughout, despite the struggles that faced, especially against a recharged Alonso/Ferrari attack.  Despite the 24 second pitstop Lewis endured during the race, he finished close to 50 seconds behind Vettel at the chequered flag, which is a sobering statistic in any form of terminology.  Fourth and sixth was a good save, but McLaren still have work to do, if they want to go toe-to-toe with Red Bull.

     A quick mention for one of the under-rated performers of the season so far and that is Sebastian Buemi.  Like in Australia, the Toro Rosso driver finished in the points, in ninth place and has worked very hard on his natural abilities.  Buemi had a poor 2010, especially after a solid rookie season in 2009.  If we believe the speculation, Sebastian and Jaime Alguesuari are battling for one drive at Toro Rosso, especially with the highly talented Daniel Ricciardo waiting in the wings on testing duty.  Currently, it is no contest, as Alguesuari is being left in the dust by Buemi’s improvements over the winter.  Although the two Renault drivers overhauled the Swiss star in the late laps, Buemi was the only driver who seemed to make a three-stop strategy work in Turkey, so he deserves great credit for going down this route.  Plus, he started only 16^th, so it was a mighty effort under the radar.

     To conclude this edition of ‘The Finishing Straight,’ I want to share my views with a couple of topics that are creating debate within the F1 paddock.  Firstly, Bernie Ecclestone will make a decision very soon on the future of the Bahrain Grand Prix.  With the unrest in the country having settled down, which forced the postponement of the event, initially scheduled for March 13, the organisers of the Sakhir event were in Turkey, attempting to plead their case to Ecclestone.  Bernie told the BBC on Sunday that he wants the race to take place, but there is no place for it on the calendar, unless we have the ridiculous prospect of three races in three consecutive weekends.  Bahrain probably does have an F1 future, but I can’t see them holding a race in 2011, I just can’t.  Lastly, there has been growing speculation about the plans Rupert Murdoch and his News Corp company have in taking over Formula One.  Ecclestone doesn’t want it to happen, and although Murdoch will try what he can to gain power on the sport; what would be the benefits?  The teams might get more money, but the chances are, ticket prices will go up and F1 will move into pay-per-view television.  We tried this in 2002 and it didn’t work.  Why would it work a decade on then?  Although I can see some possible negotiations starting soon, I don’t think Murdoch has enough backing to turn his move from a serious bid, into a certain venture.

I’ll be back for more of ‘The Finishing Straight’ in Barcelona.  Can anyone stop the Smiling Assassin of Grand Prix racing, Sebastian Vettel?  On the evidence of Turkey, it will have to take something special.

News Corp takeover sparks legal claims

NEWS Corporation, Rupert Murdoch’s empire faces legal challenges from several companies, after getting permission to fully takeover BSkyB.  BT, Trinity Mirror and the Telegraph Media Group are considering taking matters further in a deal which would see Sky News become an independent news channel.

RELAXED: Jeremy Hunt seems satisfied with News Corp's intentions

     Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has given the go-ahead for News Corporation to go ahead with its ambitious plans.  Under the proposal, Sky News would become an independent public limited company, which would give Murdoch his complete power to fully takeover BSkyB.  Sky News would have an independent board, but News Corp would still retain nearly 40% of its shares in the news provider; the heartbeat of 24-hour news worldwide.  The remaining 60% stake would be owned by BSkyB shareholders.     Hunt has defended the move saying; “I believe that these proposed undertakings by News Corp will address concerns about media plurality.  The undertakings given offer Sky News more independence from News Corporation than it currently has.” 

EXCELLENT: Sky News logo (1994) has provided a brilliant service

     Sky News has been part of the BSkyB family since it launched on February 5 1989.  Had Murdoch not decided to relinquish Sky News, it would have left him with 100% complete control of BSkyB, alongside The Sun, The Times, The News of the World and 20^th Century Fox underneath his News International banner.  By allowing this change, it will give Murdoch the prize he wants more than anything.  Under the new plans, Sky News would have to restructure its news channel, alongside appointing a board of directors and an independent chairman.  News Corp would also guarantee funding for Sky News for the next decade.       

     However, the opposition against this takeover are furious.  They feel the new deal is a complete whitewash.  The coalition government have come under fire from these opponents for their relatively friendly relationship with the Murdoch family, especially as The Sun, the UK’s No.1 selling newspaper is politically supporting the Conservatives.  Ex-BBC board governor Sir Christopher Bland is convinced that the deal would be very bad for the UK media industry.  “The point is that the proposal does not address the fundamental issue, which isn’t about Sky News, which is an excellent service.  The issue, which should be outlined by the competition, is the power News International has over television and newspapers in the UK.”

     Clearance has yet to be fully given though, as these opponents to the takeover have until March 21 to try and changed the mind of Culture Secretary Hunt.  If that process ends up not working out, this could end in a messy little wrangle involving the courts; a process that is bound to drag on and on.  It is safe to say that we haven’t heard the last of this protracted takeover. 

The Times Goes Subscription Based - Is This The Future For Online Journalism?

As news broke on Friday of News International’s latest monkey-making scheme, there are many questions that have been raised by Rupert Murdoch’s decisions, which is risky to say the least.  From June 2010, The Times and The Sunday Times Websites will go subscription-based.  Online viewers will have to pay £1 a day or £2 a week to access the news stories from their sites.

Both newspapers feel that the decision they’ve made was inevitable, largely thanks to the consistent fallings in newspaper reading circulation and the rapidly growing competition from the Internet.  What it does give is a possible outlook to how online journalism may operate in the future.  Competitors such as the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail have already voiced their concerns over this latest development, both thinking that there is a major danger that the Times may price itself out of the online market. 

To date only specialised papers like the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal charge consumers to view their online content.  Therefore, this is a risky strategy, as The Times is such a popular source for hard-hitting news stories.  James Harding, the current editor of The Times has admitted that this move might not work out, but is confident that the behaviour of people on the Internet will change, so consequently, the switch will be made for the better.   It will leave people with food for thought, whether they want to pay the pound to access The Times’ website, or look at similar articles for free on competitor’s websites, such as The Guardian, The Independent or the Daily Mail. 

Murdoch has taken some major gambles in the past, but by being a successful media mogul, most have paid off, such as the launch of BSkyB in February 1989.  He insists that for quality journalism, free doesn’t work anymore, especially with the falling newspaper sales.  There is an also strong possibility that Murdoch’s other newspapers underneath his News Corp empire, The Sun and The News of the World may end up going to a subscription based website.  The next few months for the entire journalism field will watch with waited breath to see whether this gamble will pay off, with either winning results or an experiment that won’t go up successful avenues.