What's worse, illegally watching F1 on the internet, or hacking into the mobile phones of murder victims and celebs in order to get tawdry news stories for gutter-minded morons to gossip over? I hope so much stuff comes out about the despicable tactics of Murdoch's companies that the whole house of cards comes crashing down, leaving the BBC with F1 again. You can but dream.
Surely got to be a few streams out there in which we can get hold of the RTL channel in Germany (where they show the races) and various other channels around the world.
I am definitely up for that but I think the inaugural Indian GP would make a bigger statement if we can spread the message beyond the confines of this forum. A new circuit is always a bit shaky and they might well ask how FOM can have got them into this situation.
I understand your honourable stance here Bando but what I am hoping for is that the BBC's viewing figures reach an all time high this season, in order to demonstrate the biggest and most catastrophic land-slide when Sky become involved, thereby highlighting the terrible injustice to 20% of the UK's adult population who have become really interested in something this country excels at, which generates more revenue for the country than any other sport. I want to see huge audiences for the remainder of this year. And then I want Murdoch to see what he has done and to fail in the biggest possible mannerâ¦
Further to my last, if BBC's F1 audience falls away now, it will be used as evidence that they made the right decision! We must make every effort to leave them no excuses, no get out clauses, no justifications, no room for spin, and no way to avoid looking very very foolish indeed. Have you noticed how they are saying as little as possible about it already? - It's not even been on the national news! They are already trying to brush it under the carpet! We should leave the BBC no room for manoeuvre and no extra piece of carpet to cover it up.
I think the idea of running a very public campaign to target a specific, single GP negates that concept, cosi. The trend towards ever higher viewing figures would not be affected but a noticeable drop in figures for one event could only be seen as a deliberate protest against the decision. Also, there is always a chance that BBC viewing figures won't drop off massively next season, and that Sky gets a significant number of new subscribers. In that scenario don't you think the fans will simply have let the whole issue be swept under the carpet without protest?
I couldn't. I'm addicted to F1. I watch the live races, and in my spare time i watch classic races. I'm even trying to get sky, just for the f1 next year.
I understand what you're getting at but doesn't Cowboy's post demonstrate at least part of the problem? I am all for a boycott of one event if the viewing figures for all the rest are at an all time high, so as to demonstrate the biggest possible difference between BBC's present audience and Sky's future audience - which I hope will be devastatingly small, cutting off the value to sponsors, advertisers and audiences who buy into it. Anyone wishing to organise a boycott has my blessing and will get my backing, but the reality is that it is unlikely to effect a swing greater than about 15% of the audience, even if everyone who makes such a commitment through fora such as this, follow through on their promises. What we need is a cohesive plan of long-term action: a complete boycott of all of Sky's F1 coverage from every person who can be strong enough to resist it. However, a 15% dent in the BBC audience on just one occasion (with 'Sky high' audiences for all of the rest of the BBC's coverage) could help galvanise public resolve and send a message to Sky's backers that there is a passionate audience who have a voice and can and will use it. Therefore, if a date for an organised boycott is set and effectively published through every possible means, I will give it my full backing and will fall in with such action.
Cowboy: Your signature message looks passionate and determined. Do you think the words of your posts appear to contradict it?
Possibly. I wrote that the other day when i was really angry. I've been meaning to change it back. I'm thinking of just getting BT vision instead of Sky. I can still get sky sports for the f1, but i won't be giving murdoch as much cash. I mostly need BT for broadband, my mobile broadband is costing me too much money. If i get TV too, that's just an added bonus
