Thursday 20th March 2008

F1 Goes Back To The Beeb

No more adverts for Formula One

---

Formula One is going back to the BBC from next year, it has been revealed.

The BBC has secured the UK rights for the 2009 season under a five year deal.

The deal for an undisclosed fee will mark F1’s return to BBC screens 12 years after it switched to ITV.

The contract covers the BBC Sport website, as well as on TV and radio.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he was ‘delighted’, adding: ‘The BBC has some innovative ideas to consolidate and expand our UK fan base.’

Under the contract there will be live video coverage on the BBC Sport website.

Asked why he had decided to split with ITV, Ecclestone said: ‘It's not that we are unhappy with ITV but I think maybe they will have their hands full with other things and maybe the BBC can service us a bit better.

‘I think they will be able to service us an awful lot better, a little bit more time.

‘I think it will be good, a fresh face. I'm not complaining about ITV, I'm not saying they did a bad job or anything like that.

‘But with all the other things they are loaded up with - and who knows they will get some more stuff - maybe it will be a bit more difficult to spend as much time on us.

‘I think the BBC will do that.’

Dominic Coles, BBC Sport director of sport rights, said: ‘The biggest motorsporting event in the world is returning home after 12 years.

‘We were delighted when Bernie Ecclestone approached us about the return of F1 to the BBC.

‘F1 is a crown jewel of sports broadcasting, so to bring the rights back to their traditional home from 2009 is tremendously exciting.

‘Fans will be able to enjoy uninterrupted, state of the art and innovative coverage from BBC Sport, across all of our TV, radio and new media platforms, for the first time since 1996.’

[niva441]

As long as they don't hire James Allen

[deevee]

No - they'll get Murray back

ETA - Great news though. No more disappearing for an ad break and missing the only overtaking move of the whole race! Can't imagine how much of our license money the Beeb would have had to have spent on this though.

Edited by deevee on Thursday 20th March 11:42

[_Batty_]

another shameless plug to keep Martin Brundle
Please vote/pass it around

http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/17851.html

Matt

[Teppic]

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[ibiza_warrior]

Finally, No more adverts for the worlds best motor sport

[Daxcossie]

Fantastic news as long as James is dumped.

I would vote for Ben Edwards

Edited by Daxcossie on Thursday 20th March 11:45

[Funk]

Pleased to hear this. I make a mental note NOT to buy anything advertised during the advert breaks in F1. How they thought putting ad breaks in a live race was EVER A good idea is beyond me.

Good news all round.

[E30M3SE]

Tamara's probably been offered a 5 years contract by the BBC also.

[Vooley]

Finally! Back where F1 should be and where I enjoyed it in my youth!

Bring back Murray and get that tt Brundle off the air to make it perfect again!

[johnaachen]

Did anyone else think that Tamara was rubbish? Cute but rubbish!

[sniff petrol]

E30M3SE said:

Tamara's probably been offered a 5 years contract by the BBC also.

:rolf:

[Collaudatore]

Please bring back the real F1 music also

[tomTVR]

No more adverts awsome!

[kma]

good! i fkcing hate itv with a passion!

i remember sending a drunken abusive rant to them a few years ago about all the adverts. didn't get a reply.

[Goochie]

Did anyone see that annoying Ecclestone girl on the F1 season preview????

I hope the Beeb dont take her on.

[Dr G]

Is it really 12 years?

[Vooley]

Collaudatore said:

Please bring back the real F1 music also

BBC + change intro music back to the bridge of 'the chain' + Murray Walker + Martin Brundle as a technical commentator in the pits = motorsport perfection.

Now only if we could get Prost and Senna back...

Edited by Vooley on Thursday 20th March 12:01

Edited by Vooley on Thursday 20th March 12:03

[sprinter885]

Can't help but think this is purely driven by the desire to add further lining to Mr Ecclestone's already well-lined pockets !
Apart from advert breaks I agree, I thought ITV has finally done a good job-but probably too many bodies on the ground.(James Allen, Brundle & Blundell, Steve Ryder, Louise doo-dah et al)
As for Murray coming back -come on it was 12 +years ago when him (& James Hunt) were at their best.

Sorry but have you heard Murray lately ? Might be good for a laugh...

F1 commentary still has nothing like the involvement & excitement of MotoGP/World Superbikes presentation on Eurosport for my taste. (OK damn adverts again I know)

[wongy]

In all seriousness, adverts aside, I think ITV did a great job and took the coverage to another level. More background news, qualifying and live races with repeats over the following week.

When I compare it with the coverage BBC give MotoGP (which I hasten to add is getting better), the ITV coverage is much better.

I just hope the BBC look to see what ITV have got right and carry the formula (no pun intended) through...

Oh yes... including Martin Brundle.

[rev-erend]

That's good news .. if Bernie approached the BBC, sounds like ITV did not want to pay so much.

No more ads - that's fantastic so long as the trade off is not Tamora Ecclestone !