Formula One will be back on the BBC from 2009. The Beeb has secured all television rights for the next five years, for an undisclosed fee that’s likely to run into tens of millions of pounds. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he was “delighted” with the new deal, which ends the sport’s 12-year spell on ITV. “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,” said Ecclestone. The BBC intends to integrate its web, digital and radio channels to offer fans state-of-the-art race coverage. It is not yet clear whether the network will put a new punditry team together to front its own F1 show, or if the iconic Fleetwood Mac theme tune will return. But many F1 fans have already used internet forums to call for any talent transfer between ITV and BBC to omit current commentator James Allen.
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Re: F1 back on the BBC
Brilliant!
Ad-free F1!
What's not to love?
Re: F1 back on the BBC
Oooooo!! Douglas Jardine....a typical sweaty sock....haven't you sorted your independence out yet, you economy draining parasites.... jog on
Re: F1 back on the BBC
Brilliant news!
I can only assume Bernie Ecclestone doesn't watch ITV's coverage, or else he would not describe it as high quality. Advertising breaks in sports action (they missed the effective deciding point in the first championship they covered!), endless padding with interviews of presumably famous but irrelevant pop stars, vacuous post event "analysis" and endless money raising competitions which could be won by anyone who could spell their own name.
Tips to the BBC - keep Martin Brundle, consider also Damon Hill, cover qualifying well, starting the coverage 15 minutes before the start of the race is fine.
AND BRING BACK MURRAY WALKER