bbc may not renew f1 contract.

It's actually £2m I think (£40m for a 20-race season), but your point's still valid. The BBC are clearly the best at doing the job and the value they add should be knocked off the cost of licensing it.

 

Here are James Allen's and Joe Saward's views on it.

 

Cheers, Westy.

Just move F1 to BBC4. Problem solved.

Oo-er. How depressing. I wonder if Sky would consider showing it uninterrupted since it would be on a subscription channel so they're getting paid anyway.

 

Why would the BBC not renew. Surely the ratings are getting stronger and stronger at its prime viewing for its audiance.

Also for potential buyers.. would Channel 5 (lol) be interested. It should not be allowed on subscription TV

 

Maybe Dave will give it a punt.

 

Also notice it is Murdoch's NewsCorp carrying the story.

That man, once he has his sights on something, knows every trick to get what he wants, one way or another. He really is one of the biggest dangers to editorial freedom in the U.K. and U.S. and his control over information really concerns me.

Not sure I want the media to be spoonfeeding the nation his biased right wing tosh. Avoid the times people, The Guardian and The Independent are much better options.

 

Good point Jacky

 

Westy posted a link to Joe Saward's blog, which recaps why the BBC may not be able to renew the contract. I have to say, I take issue with the notion that Wimbledon, a tournament in a sport that is dominated by the USA and, latterly, Europe, is more relevant to the BBC's role as national broadcaster than Formula 1, which is one sport the UK excels in.

 

I would disagree with that a bit; yes the UK excels in F1 but it is still a global sport while Wimbledon is a major tournament held in the UK that is steeped in heritage and tradition which the BBC has hosted since 1937, can you think of any other sporting event that is as British as Wimbledon?

 

Under performing at the the Football World Cup?

 

Ha ha, rep.

EDIT: Rep fail.

 

So British they have a german and american in the commentry team...


Strawberries and cream are going cheap though!! nom nom nom nom

 

Anything but Sky, what about poor people like me, that love the sport but cannot fund a subscription?

 

The Times (owned by Turdoch) reports that the BEEB may face a penalty fee (£50m?) if they cancel at end of this season (with 2 years to go at £40m per season). BBC execs are worried that the Board have seen the additional cost of travel for the production and commentary team - it is enormous.
(I suggest dropping Eddie and the pit girls, first class flights and halving the restaurant bills). If the existing 5 year deal cost £200m - what would it take to renew, and when is the competition?

 

Any chance you could copy and paste the Times article, Bergkamp? Where are they getting this privileged information? Are the minutes of board meetings in the public domain?

They could cut costs by having all the pundits in a studio in Shepherds Bush and starting the show half an hour before the race. Only Brundle, Coulthard and a couple of cameramen need to be at the circuit. I really like the F1 Forum show but if it's a choice between losing that and having adverts back, jib the Forum.

 

here's a .jpg - I don't have Times online - I scanned it !!!

 

bigger?

 

Thanks a lot for that, Bergkamp. I appreciate the effort.

It's still all off the record briefings - "a BBC Source told The Times" and "questions have been asked" and "it is thought that..." - I hate that kind of reporting. It reads like Holy Blood, Holy Grail. £150k production fees a year doesn't sound that much for such a large operation. It sounds like that part is worth the investment for record viewing figures and BAFTA awards.

 

that was just transport.

 

Oh yeah, sorry. Still doesn't sound like first class flights for that many people to eighteen destinations but I suppose they could trim it by a third or something.