F1: Life on the Limit
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
I think you are getting your decades mixed up.
By the time BBC were showing sponsored world snooker, they had already settled into their standardised format for covering all the GPs.
As for claiming their coverage was poor prior to ITV, it looks poor by modern standards but it was the BBC who eventually were the first to cover an entire season in full (1978) and were the first to show all the races live (1996). The coverage was getting better as the years progressed and the audience was gradually growing - thanks mainly to the BBC's pretty good coverage. And it wasn't just limited to the UK, the BBC programming was also carried by some other English speaking countries.
ITV upped the game massively when they took over and moved the coverage to a new level. Their main problem was they never came up with a satisfactory way of inserting ad breaks into their coverage.
As the years have progressed, the expectations of the audience have grown and now any change to the TV format is generally looked on as a step backwards rather than an improvement.
I may have got the wrong example, but I do remember frequent letters in the motoring press, either late 70s/early 80s, complaining about the lack of proper F1 coverage while pointing out that other sponsored sports enjoyed blanket TV coverage.By the time BBC were showing sponsored world snooker, they had already settled into their standardised format for covering all the GPs.
As for claiming their coverage was poor prior to ITV, it looks poor by modern standards but it was the BBC who eventually were the first to cover an entire season in full (1978) and were the first to show all the races live (1996). The coverage was getting better as the years progressed and the audience was gradually growing - thanks mainly to the BBC's pretty good coverage. And it wasn't just limited to the UK, the BBC programming was also carried by some other English speaking countries.
ITV upped the game massively when they took over and moved the coverage to a new level. Their main problem was they never came up with a satisfactory way of inserting ad breaks into their coverage.
As the years have progressed, the expectations of the audience have grown and now any change to the TV format is generally looked on as a step backwards rather than an improvement.
On a side note, I also remember the controversy around that time over showjumper Harvey Smith, riding horses with names like "Sanyo Music Centre" and "Sanyo Olympic Video".
Halmyre said:
I may have got the wrong example, but I do remember frequent letters in the motoring press, either late 70s/early 80s, complaining about the lack of proper F1 coverage while pointing out that other sponsored sports enjoyed blanket TV coverage.
On a side note, I also remember the controversy around that time over showjumper Harvey Smith, riding horses with names like "Sanyo Music Centre" and "Sanyo Olympic Video".
And horses called Everest Double Glazing.On a side note, I also remember the controversy around that time over showjumper Harvey Smith, riding horses with names like "Sanyo Music Centre" and "Sanyo Olympic Video".
As I said, 1978 was the first season where all the F1 races were covered - although many in highlight form only.
Trivia question - during the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley, there was only one advertising notice in the entire ground. Can anybody guess what item was being advertised?
Eric Mc said:
I may.
But comments by others are not encouraging me to do so.
You should watch it. I really enjoyed it and I don't mind admitting that on a fairly recent transatlantic business trip I nearly jumped up in my seat and shouted "YYEAAAAHHH!" when Sid Watkins asked Brundle "What day is it?" and started getting all emotional.But comments by others are not encouraging me to do so.
There are gaps in my F1 knowledge too young to have really seen or understood Hunt. Too busy partying to know much about the late 80's/early 90's so possibly it filled in the odd snippet I'd not seen before.
It's an excellent film and a thoroughly enjoyable documentary. It's worth it alone for the opening 5 minutes with Brundle.
Sid was into his Motorsport, but it was a medical appointment in '78 with Bernie that set the ball rolling for his time in F1. Bernie pretty much gave him the green light for whatever he wanted after the crash that claimed Ronnie Peterson, and the FISA/FIA joined suit a few years later.
Watched the film and agree with the comment above, it won't tell you much that most fans already know, but it's well put together and has some great footage.
I've also just finished Sid's book, the story that surprised me was how late the significant improvements came I.e after the two fatalities at Imola and this was the first time Mosley really pushed the improvements. The film portrays him as being more active from a much earlier stage I thought. It's amazing to read the state of safety when Sid first arrived on the scene.
I've also just finished Sid's book, the story that surprised me was how late the significant improvements came I.e after the two fatalities at Imola and this was the first time Mosley really pushed the improvements. The film portrays him as being more active from a much earlier stage I thought. It's amazing to read the state of safety when Sid first arrived on the scene.
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