The BBC Ends Formula 1 Television Contract

857 Views 8 Replies 8 Participants Last post by 55russamg, Dec 26, 2015

Berliner Heckflosse

Discussion Starter · Dec 21, 2015

The BBC, one of the best-known broadcasters in the world, is going through some tough times. As part of a savings plan across the corporation, the public service broadcaster of the United Kingdom has ended its television contract with the Formula 1, three years earlier than originally specified.

Although this unexpected move comes right after the Briton Lewis Hamilton won his third world championship title, Barbara Slater, the BBC’s director of sport, revealed that, because of the company's recent financial situation, some unwanted choices must be made.

BBC Sport has been asked to deliver no less than $52,140,725 (35 million pounds) of savings as part of a $223,460,250 (150 million pounds) gap in the corporation’s finances. As Slater stated, “a significant chunk of BBC’s Sports savings target will be delivered through the immediate termination of our TV rights agreement for Formula 1.”

While BBC Sport ended the contract, BBC Radio 5 has extended its commentary rights for F1 until the 2021 season.

The British broadcaster regained the Formula 1 rights from iTV in 2009, but because of the financial problems, it has been sharing them with Sky Sports since the 2012 season, BBC reports.

This is probably the British broadcaster’s second breakdown of the year, after losing Jeremy Clarkson and Co. because of the scandal between the Top Gear presenter and a producer. It seems that this wasn’t the only thing BBC lost back then. After the three presenters had left for Amazon, the British corporation had to fire 1,000 people and lost around 4 million viewers.

The TV rights for the Formula 1 will be now owned by Channel 4, which recently announced a three-year deal. The agreement consists of broadcasting 10 live races, including practice and qualifying sessions, as well as comprehensive highlights of all 21 Grands Prix and qualifying sessions.

After BBC ended the contract, Formula 1’s CEO Bernie Ecclestone declared that he was sorry for this unexpected move, but also happy because Channel 4 will broadcast F1 events without any commercial during the race.

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Avel Du

· #2 · Dec 22, 2015

We pay a tv license fee in the uk. This is then mostly used to fund all BBC services, which have no adverts, although they do promote their own progs.

F1, tennis, cricket, live NFL are sports that can be watched with no ads popping up during the action.

ITV held the contract for a short period and helped kill F1 by running ads during the race. Returning after the 3/4 min ads to a "here's what you missed in the two laps whilst you were away" became .... irritating. Watching just highlight shows became more frequent.

If 4 can run uninterrupted racing, with good presenters etc good luck to them.

It kind of demonstrates the low value ITV gave F1, despite the publicity it got out of the sport.

Run an ad in the middle of any level of football match, I dare you.

Easy dare, because they won't/don't. Football fans will not put up with it.

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DAVIETHESCAFF

· #3 · Dec 22, 2015

My understanding is that ch4 will be running uninterrupted coverage of the 10 live races they will cover. :tu: Not sure about the highlighted ones.

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Delucas

· #4 · Dec 22, 2015

Most young people as an example are not paying the tv tax to fund the bbc .

And just view catch up on there phones and tablets hence dont need a tv lcense tax .

But believe the govt are changing the policy soon so the catch up service will still need to be paid .

Wether live or not .

Please correct me if im wrong .

But in this day and age with streaming services netflix on demand etc etc

The bbc license fee needs scrapping or pay if you watch it .
Just like amazon prime and nerflix .

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kingronnie

· #5 · Dec 22, 2015

Hopefully they'll get rid of David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan - they can keep Suzi Perry though

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GeeJay

· #6 · Dec 24, 2015

kingronnie said:
Hopefully they'll get rid of David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan - they can keep Suzi Perry though

Gotta agree with that...

Shame to see the BBC drop the contract though.

As for the licence fee thing, I don't understand why BBC iPlayer isn't the same as Sky Go where it can only be enabled on two devices using your licence number.

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wja96

· #7 · Dec 26, 2015

kingronnie said:
Hopefully they'll get rid of David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan - they can keep Suzi Perry though

I think Coulthard is a pretty decent 'expert' commentator during the races. Jordan does nothing for me, and it's obvious from when he does pit-walks that he is a deeply marmite character. Some people obviously adore him, other loathe him. I'm not a great fan.

Suzi Perry adds nothing for me, other than to say they have a mature woman on a sports programme. Tottering around simpering in high heels seems to be the extent of her talents. If that's what she's there for then things haven't really moved on much.

Suzy Wolff could replace all three of them and probably do a better job. And she's free next year.

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kingronnie

· #8 · Dec 26, 2015

wja96 said:
I think Coulthard is a pretty decent 'expert' commentator during the races. Jordan does nothing for me, and it's obvious from when he does pit-walks that he is a deeply marmite character. Some people obviously adore him, other loathe him. I'm not a great fan.

Some see him as a comedy sideshow, I mute the telly when he comes on!

I find it hard to believe that Channel 4 could get a better commentary pairing than Crofty and Brundle. I still won't be signing up to $ky though.

wja96 said:
Suzi Perry adds nothing for me, other than to say they have a mature woman on a sports programme. Tottering around simpering in high heels seems to be the extent of her talents. If that's what she's there for then things haven't really moved on much.

I have soft spot for Suzi. Whilst she's not much of an anchor woman, she can do no wrong in my eyes

wja96 said:
Suzy Wolff could replace all three of them and probably do a better job. And she's free next year.

Very good call!

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55russamg

· #9 · Dec 26, 2015

Knock F1 on the Head

I like F1 and the roar of the Engines, ability to see the Driver working etc.
The BBC could put a great sporting event back on the Telly with Rally Cross>

Edge of the seat stuff and a little bit of money from the Beeb and Sponsorship that follows TV coverage.
Although when I want a real engine fix I go to Santa Pod and get my internals pounded and my eyes watered>

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