ITV to step in as BBC backs out of Formula 1 please log in to view this image The BBC is to back out of its Formula 1 coverage three years early, with ITV poised to pick up free-to-air rights from next season. Broadcast understands ITV is ready to swoop for the motorsport in a deal that will allow the commercial broadcaster to follow Lewis Hamilton’s title defence from the first race in Australia on 20 March 2016. Like the BBC, ITV will broadcast a selection of races live, while others will be covered via highlights. Sky Sports’ is unlikely to be impacted by the change. The commercial PSB is ready to step in after the BBC decided to walk away early from its seven-year deal, which was due to run until 2018, as it battles to cut costs. Sources have indicated that the BBC could save up to £60m per season - or around £180m in total - as a result of its U-turn, but will have to pay F1 rights-holder Bernie Ecclestone a termination fee, which could run to tens of millions of pounds. The decision marks the end of a six-year relationship between the BBC and F1. It returned to the sport in 2009 when ITV backed out midway through its contract after it was unable to justify airing both F1 and Champions League football. Then in 2012, the BBC agreed a deal to share its coverage with Sky, saving it an estimated £50m. The corporation has now decided that it can no longer afford the sport, following its decision to take £35m out of its budget as part of measures taken to close the £150m funding gap created by the so-called iPlayer loophole. “The BBC is slashing costs,” said one source with knowledge of the deal. “Now it has started talking about cutting channels it is difficult for it to justify spending so much on sports rights and production.” Earlier this year the BBC walked away from its live coverage of The Open golf championship 12-months early, citing financial constraints. The move allowed Sky Sports to start its scheduled coverage of the tournament one year earlier than anticipated. At the time, a Sky insider suggested BBC Sport’s focus was firmly on the Olympics 2016. Securing the sport could provide a shot-in-the-arm for ITV, which is trying to lure male viewers following its loss of Champions League football to BT Sport from this season. June’s Canadian Grand Prix, which was won by Mercedes driver Hamilton was watched by a season-high crowd of 4.7m (24.6%), with a peak of 5.6m (28.6%). Almost two-thirds (61.4%) of the audience was male. The BBC and ITV declined to comment. http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/50981...ter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter8
A shame that, generally the BBC do a better job than other broadcasters, though Sky have got a lot better, However David Coulthard isn't a patch on Martin Brudle at SKY.
Good Who in God's name wants to watch people driving cars round in circles?! I can't think of anything more tedious
Less than half the amount that watch some 'celebrities' that I've never heard of learning to dance. They're both rubbish
They might as well do, they keep going round passing near where they'd started from. They shouldn't go round a corner more than once because that makes it even more tedious (Any athletics race more than 400m suffers from the same problem...the marathon however is ok)
Yep. It's total gash. Stick me in an Audi RS6 and put Lewis, boring ****house, Hamilton in a Fiat 500 and I'd tear him a new arsehole around a race track. My point is it's who's got the best car, **** all to do with who's the best driver. How is that a sport? Driving a sport? GTF, my mum is 70 and she drives all over the gaff, hardly a sport is it?
I didn't even know they had a live show, but probably they would if there were enough seats It's boring (and not even really a sport) and you know it
ITV are investing their Champions League money and the BBC (with the Government on its back) cannot afford to compete. I'm surprised BT don't bid and show them on their Free To Air channels.
Actually I effectively have that anyway as I control the remote and Mrs Tash doesn't want to watch any reality tv ****e, or people in overalls driving round and round, anyway At least there will be a few more BBC programmes to choose from when the televised engineers test drives are removed from the programming
What if she was racing my mum to Dunhelm Mill with the winner getting a pair of curtains? What's your mum driving? Mine's got a Corsa.
That would be better viewing At least they wouldn't be driving round and round for hours before they rushed for the trolley
