Formula 1: Coverage In The UK - BBC or ITV?

Yes, I am aware that this is not exactly breaking news and apologies to anyone not in the UK, this story probably won’t interest you that much. I have searched the section and can’t find anything really covering this matter and I think it’s an important one here in the UK and I want to know:

“Does the general F1 fan-base here in the UK share my opinions on the news of big shift?”

What are the reasons for the shift? Well the official quotes are as follows...

Ecclestone: “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.”

ITV statement quotes: “It was a straightforward commercial decision”... “A lot of races are happening at night, they're not happening at peak time. That it is not particularly good value for money”

Okay, okay, okay... BUT... The Brazilian Grand Prix last year was the ITV’s most watched sports event of the year. The Formula 1 coverage must be the crown jewel in any TV stations sports broadcasting.

Did you know that when Lewis Hamilton raced on BBC’s Top Gear for his one lap in a reasonably priced car the viewing figures were higher than that of the ITV Brazilian Grand Prix coverage!

Is ITV crazy to lose such a deal?

Many believe that it’s a case of “sour grapes” as the contract has been terminated only three years into the current five year deal with ITV. This is mainly due to ITV’s commitment to the Football. According to Bernie Ecclestone, he is looking for the station to focus more on the Formula One coverage as the forefront of their sports broadcasting, and rightly so.

On the flip side ITV has just secured another season's worth of Champions League Football which they believe to be more profitable to the station than the unsociable, off-peak times of the races in the F1 calendar.

So there it is, the news many of us may have been waiting for: the coverage of the Formula One will return to the BBC. Finally our TV license money is being spent well.

No more annoying adverts to interrupt the action, no more annoying sponsor VT at either end of the commercial breaks. Apparently last season, the total time used on advertisements accumulated to over four hours of missed action, which averages at roughly 15 minutes per race in total... Can you imagine the uproar if 15 minutes were just chopped out of the Champions League Final for the latest advert for the new Sony Bravia 52” LCD TV?

Back to the good points: we can have our theme tune back (Fleetwood Mac – The Chain). What a great tune, the iconic theme, that tune that signified that it was game on! There wasn’t anything better to get you in the mood for a bit of Sunday afternoon racing. It made it what it was... Exciting!

Can we have Murray Walker too?

Unfortunately whilst the news of the BBC obtaining this exclusive five year deal made Murray almost fall out of bed, I believe he has said that he would struggle to run out an 18 race season and he almost certainly couldn’t keep up with the pace, unlike back in the good old days...

"And there are just a few more corners for Nigel Mansell to go to win the Canadian Grand Prix... and... He’s going rather slow.... HE'S STOPPING HE'S STOPPING!”... Classic Murray in exciting times.

The early front runner for the job is Richard Hammond from BBC’s Top Gear. I think it could be quite witty but I am not entirely sure his cheeky chappy ways would fit just quite right. Maybe it would just take some getting used to? Who do you want to see in the commentary box? Martin Brundle, Jonathan Pearce, James Allen, Ted Kravitz, John Watson, Damon Hill... Who else? Open forum people...

Just as a side note as I mentioned Damon Hill... Did you know that the last time a Brit won the Formula One World Championship the coverage was with the BBC? An omen maybe? Fingers crossed!

There are a lot of other changes set to come in place with the move to the Beeb, such as a very real possibility of viewing in High Definition (Heaven!), lots more interactive services on your “Red Button”, lots more on-line on that interweb thing, text info services for your mobile phone, full coverage on digital and analogue radio services... All bundled together make for an interesting experience and one I certainly can’t wait to take out for a spin.  I think making the whole race weekend experience as accessible as possible is very important for not only existing fans, but also the youth of today growing up and taking an interest in their role models, such as the Lewis Hamiltons of the sport.

So we have lots to muse on. I think potentially this may divide the UK audience. However it will be edged by the fans of the Beeb, and that includes myself.

I am all for it and believe it will be a step in the right direction, which let’s face it in the light of some of the rule changes coming into the sport, it's maybe needed!

Roll on 2009, welcome back BBC.

This is where I hand things over to you guys to thrash it out amongst yourselves. Let’s have your views on this big exciting change. Who do you want on the commentary team? What features would you like to see? How can the Beeb improve on ITV's coverage? Overall do you think it’s a positive or a negative change?

Feedback guys...

Ben, over and out