BSkyB are reportedly preparing to launch a bid to snap up the television rights for the rebel F1 Championship. The Formula One Teams' Association, consisting of Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Brawn, Red Bull, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Toyota and BMW Sauber, announced late last night that they are forming a breakaway world championship.
This was due to frustration at the FIA and they're rules for the 2010 season. With the BBC signing a five-year deal with commercials rights holders Formula One Management, they cannot break out of that deal and pursue a deal with the new championship.
That now leaves BSkyB, ITV and Channel 5 to go ahead and bid for the channel, although the BBC could possibly find a way of making a bid too.
Betting agency Ladbrokes have Sky at 11/8, ITV at 9/4, the BBC at 11/4 and Five on the outside at 6/1.
"Sky have demonstrated in the past their willingness to snap up breakaway competitions," said Ladbrokes spokesperson Nick Weinberg.
Mr. Weinberg is correct. Sky immediately snapped up the rights to the Premier League when it formed in 1992, and did the same soon after when the PDC was created as Darts divided between the BDO and the PDC.
Sky also decided to go for the IndyCar series after the split in that series, and also own the rights to the NASCAR and A1GP coverage.
The main sticking point will be advertising. Apart from the BBC, no company will be willing to broadcast the qualifying and race without advertisement, so in the interests of the fans, FOTA may decide that the BBC could still be the number one choice.
More on this as it comes.
Source: Digital Spy.
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