F1 on Sky

[TimberWolf]

They say "BBC will only show half the races live". Does that mean the others they will still show but delayed, or that they won't show them at all?

Half the enjoyment of F1 is the talking around the races IMO so if they show highlights and include the talking it could still be good, especially if they edit practice/qualifying/race into one slick program.

I often watch it recorded anyway. And with most other TV for that matter.

But paying so much to billionaire Ecclestone is bad news IMO, as is BBC license payers in effect subsidising Sky (and visa versa) in this joint deal. The BBC should have pulled out altogether and let Sky try and go alone (£55 million a year fee and rising!) and watch the sponsors drop out due to loss of audience. A nice kick in the teeth for greedy Ecclestone, and Sky, and get the rights back cheaper down the line when Sky can't give them away. Racing drivers are paid enough with it going like football. As it is we've some half arsed solution that will allow costs to go stratospheric year on year, been great coup for Sky and has sidelined poorer relatives such as ITV.

[TimberWolf]

“Sky have been trying to buy the TV rights from us for a long time but we won’t because they are not free-to-air television broadcasters,” he vowed in May. “With their [audience] figures it would be almost impossible for teams to find sponsors. That would be suicidal.” Clearly, with the BBC acting as a backstop, that view has changed.

The BBC hanged themselves and ITV. They should have walked away and waited for the price plummet. Maybe some of the BBC executive have jobs/backhanders lined up at Sky?

[TimberWolf]

2346 comments at:
BBC - Sport Editors: New F1 deal explained

A lot of unhappy bunnies and the moderators can't keep up.

[TimberWolf]

4300 comments and 13,185 signatures and rising.

The Daily Mail wrote (for what it's worth) today that Channel 4 offered as much as Sky. We'd have been better off if the BBC had never bought the rights off ITV and pushed the price up.


A picture of a billionaire standing next to the guy on the right

[Zippy]

4300 comments and 13,185 signatures and rising.

The Daily Mail wrote (for what it's worth) today that Channel 4 offered as much as Sky. We'd have been better off if the BBC had never bought the rights off ITV and pushed the price up.


A picture of a billionaire standing next to the guy on the right

Bernie has completely lost the plot, but then he hasn't been playing with a full deck for years. He's the one that can afford to buy his daughters luxury houses. though.

Hopefully my plan to watch it live on RTL will pan out.

[TimberWolf]

Speculation about Brundle moving to Sky

...yesterday the Hungaroring circuit outside Budapest, venue for today's Hungarian GP, was alive with speculation that the popular broad-caster, who admits he is "calmly working through his options'', will switch microphones next season.

Brundle on pole for switch to Sky - Motor Racing, Sport - The Independent

[gingerjedi]

I didn't see the podium shenanigans, did Button gesture a No2 towards the German?