BBC drops F1, ITV steps in
Discussion
Looking on the bright side, F1 will still be on free-to-air TV, and the races will remain uninterrupted. Cricket fans would be delighted to have a similar situation for their sport.
The BBC's coverage was excellent, and I'm sure most of their on-air team will move to C4, as has happened previously when F1 has switched broadcasters. They would be mad not to employ McKenzie, Coulthard & McNish, in particular. I wouldn't be surprised if Edwards & Jordan continue, too.
We're not losing anything, it could be worse....
The BBC's coverage was excellent, and I'm sure most of their on-air team will move to C4, as has happened previously when F1 has switched broadcasters. They would be mad not to employ McKenzie, Coulthard & McNish, in particular. I wouldn't be surprised if Edwards & Jordan continue, too.
We're not losing anything, it could be worse....
Kermit power said:
Is there any chance, do we think, of the BBC replacing the dross that F1 has become with some sport (motor or otherwise) that's actually worth watching with much smaller royalties payable to the sport, or will we just get dull repeats of stuff?
V8 Supercars! Then I'd feel great about my licence fee again!I can't say I'm surprised by the news the Beeb is dropping F1. There seem to be 2 basic elements which each contain a huge number of issues; 1. the product (i.e. F1) seems to be losing/has lost it's way 2. the BBC are struggling to justify their existence.
No matter which channel airs F1 and no matter how much they 'big it up' the basic product is failing. Bernie has created a monster that is now basically eating itself and none of the players seem capable of finding a solution. The problems are vast, from the ownership issues all the way 'down' to artificially spicing up the racing (strange how I automatically refer to issues regarding the actual thing F1 is supposed to be about as being 'down' my list of problems - perhaps a reflection of why the sport finds itself in the position it currently is?). Costs are ridiculous, both to stage a race and to compete. Most of the money flows one-way (out, to CVC and those lovely bankers/hedge-fund managers etc) and what's left is not shared out equitably, which leaves the gap between the have's and have not's to get bigger and bigger. Technical regulations are too tight (IMO). Too much emphasis has been placed on the big car manufactures being involved. An ever-increasing number of races are being staged at mostly empty race tracks at the behest of some dubious political figure. The list goes on (and on and on!) and the importance of the actual 'racing' seems to fall further and further into the background.
So is it any surprise that the BBC decided to stop flogging this particular dying/dead horse? They have their own problems to solve. I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing what C4 make of it, although I do wish it was all the races rather than just half of them. One thing about the move to pay-TV I just don't understand is what the sponsors think they get out of it? If I was the owner of a company pumping tens of millions of pounds into sponsoring a Formula 1 team I'd want the coverage on free-to-air to maximize the audience. I'm not sure what the viewing numbers on Sky are like compared to the BBC but I'd guess at well under half.
Anyway, regardless of the TV coverage I really hope/wish Bernie/FIA/CVC and/or whoever would get their collective act together and save F1 - but as that probably involves looking beyond short-term greed I'm not holding my breath.
No matter which channel airs F1 and no matter how much they 'big it up' the basic product is failing. Bernie has created a monster that is now basically eating itself and none of the players seem capable of finding a solution. The problems are vast, from the ownership issues all the way 'down' to artificially spicing up the racing (strange how I automatically refer to issues regarding the actual thing F1 is supposed to be about as being 'down' my list of problems - perhaps a reflection of why the sport finds itself in the position it currently is?). Costs are ridiculous, both to stage a race and to compete. Most of the money flows one-way (out, to CVC and those lovely bankers/hedge-fund managers etc) and what's left is not shared out equitably, which leaves the gap between the have's and have not's to get bigger and bigger. Technical regulations are too tight (IMO). Too much emphasis has been placed on the big car manufactures being involved. An ever-increasing number of races are being staged at mostly empty race tracks at the behest of some dubious political figure. The list goes on (and on and on!) and the importance of the actual 'racing' seems to fall further and further into the background.
So is it any surprise that the BBC decided to stop flogging this particular dying/dead horse? They have their own problems to solve. I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing what C4 make of it, although I do wish it was all the races rather than just half of them. One thing about the move to pay-TV I just don't understand is what the sponsors think they get out of it? If I was the owner of a company pumping tens of millions of pounds into sponsoring a Formula 1 team I'd want the coverage on free-to-air to maximize the audience. I'm not sure what the viewing numbers on Sky are like compared to the BBC but I'd guess at well under half.
Anyway, regardless of the TV coverage I really hope/wish Bernie/FIA/CVC and/or whoever would get their collective act together and save F1 - but as that probably involves looking beyond short-term greed I'm not holding my breath.
Edited by sumpoil on Monday 21st December 13:17
Edited by sumpoil on Monday 21st December 13:17
Dal3D said:
BBC Sport is to "reluctantly" end its Formula 1 television contract three years early as part of savings across the corporation.
The BBC's F1 broadcast rights will cease from next season.
"The current financial position of the BBC means some tough and unwanted choices have to be made," said Barbara Slater, the BBC's director of sport.
Why put reluctantly in quotes? The BBC has been forced into dropping what many in the corp feel is their jewel in the crown. Murdoch must be really relishing this. And all for supporting the party he thought would win. The BBC's F1 broadcast rights will cease from next season.
"The current financial position of the BBC means some tough and unwanted choices have to be made," said Barbara Slater, the BBC's director of sport.
I've always defended the licence fee as I feared the 'Americanisation' of our TV (I avoid ITV for that very reason, I don't honestly think we've watched anything on there this year), but it's becoming increasingly hard to justify now we have online content delivery.
The only thing we watch 'as broadcast' is F1, which is going to C4, so we're now (like many others, I'm sure) paying for a service we get absolutely no benefit or use from whatsoever.
If I could divert my licence fee to Netflix (we already have Amazon Prime) I would in a heart beat.
The only thing we watch 'as broadcast' is F1, which is going to C4, so we're now (like many others, I'm sure) paying for a service we get absolutely no benefit or use from whatsoever.
If I could divert my licence fee to Netflix (we already have Amazon Prime) I would in a heart beat.
I dont blame BBC, its been a s
t couple of years as an entertainment! I havent watch a full episode in real time for ages and not good value for money at all. I blame the money grabbing F1 consortium!
As a sport I dont know where F1 should go, they need to reduce the cost and related it to modern cars. Gone are the days of big NA engine where developers can upgrade engine and car through out the series.
t couple of years as an entertainment! I havent watch a full episode in real time for ages and not good value for money at all. I blame the money grabbing F1 consortium!As a sport I dont know where F1 should go, they need to reduce the cost and related it to modern cars. Gone are the days of big NA engine where developers can upgrade engine and car through out the series.
robinessex said:
Well, as Barbara Slater of BBC sports has saved £35m, then I have now saved £145.50, as I won't be watching any live TV from now on. And if 240,000 do the same thing, the Beebs £35m saving will have been wiped out.
They won't save a penny, they will spend more on Eastenders, The Voice and WimbledonAdrian W said:
They won't save a penny, they will spend more on Eastenders, The Voice and Wimbledon
They are already talking about the value provided to sports fans through Wimbledon, the World Cup (I presume football, although other World Cups are available) and golf I think it was. None of which I have any interest in so not value to me.At least they won't have The Voice as they have already lost that.
Dal3D said:
Kermit power said:
Is there any chance, do we think, of the BBC replacing the dross that F1 has become with some sport (motor or otherwise) that's actually worth watching with much smaller royalties payable to the sport, or will we just get dull repeats of stuff?
Get Motorcross back on like Grandstand of old!!
Seriously, though, that sort of thing used to be far more entertaining than modern day F1, and it must've cost them pennies to film it!
robinessex said:
Well, as Barbara Slater of BBC sports has saved £35m, then I have now saved £145.50, as I won't be watching any live TV from now on. And if 240,000 do the same thing, the Beebs £35m saving will have been wiped out.
Given that viewing figures have dropped from 8.5 million to 2 million over the last 8 years or so, I reckon the BBC have probably already written off the remaining viewers anyway.Hardly watched any races this year as F1 is slowly dying on its feet. And now Hamilton has the 3rd championship he has been aiming for all his life I couldnt really care who wins it next year. It would be nice to have a Brit win a 4th title for the first time though.
So for me its a non-issue that the Beeb has dropped F1. I do wonder what Suzy Perry is going to present now.
So for me its a non-issue that the Beeb has dropped F1. I do wonder what Suzy Perry is going to present now.
Emeye said:
The TV licence fee makes even less sense to many of us now - I could never understand why I have to contribute to the running of S4C, the Welsh Language channel along with all the dross the BBC put out.
Indeed. Imagine being forced, by law, to drop money into the till of a shop that sells nothing that you ever wish to buy. That's what the BBC has become. It's just another tax levied on everyone for the benefit of a few.
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