Formula One to return to BBC TV

[chris]

The BBC has secured the television rights to show Formula One in the UK from the 2009 season.

The five-year deal marks the return of the sport to BBC screens 12 years after ITV began broadcasting Grands Prix.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said: "I am delighted to conclude this new deal with the BBC.

"It is an exciting time in Formula One and the BBC has some innovative new ideas to consolidate and expand our UK fan base."

The deal covers all platforms and will see F1 broadcast on the BBC Sport website, as well as on TV and radio.

Dominic Coles, BBC Sport director of sport rights, said: "The biggest motorsporting event in the world is returning home after 12 years.

"We were delighted when Bernie Ecclestone approached us about the return of F1 to the BBC.

"F1 is a crown jewel of sports broadcasting, so to bring the rights back to their traditional home from 2009 is tremendously exciting.

"Fans will be able to enjoy uninterrupted, state of the art and innovative coverage from BBC Sport, across all of our TV, radio and new media platforms, for the first time since 1996."

 

[Analoguesat]

Hooray - no more bloody advert breaks just as the most important action of the race occurs.

 

[pgh13]

Seconded.....lets just hope that

"Fans will be able to enjoy uninterrupted, state of the art and innovative coverage from BBC Sport, across all of our TV, radio and new media platforms, for the first time since 1996."

doesn't carry the usual subtext "as long as there isn't a football match at the same time"

 

[jimbo]

Glad to see F1 is coming home.

 

[rolfw]

I have to say that once upon a time I would have been delighted with this news, but now Formula one is far too predictable, perhaps the removal of traction control may make a little difference, but I doubt it.

I ask myself the questions, do I really care about races, in which many of the participants have deserted their home countries to live in tax free havens the minute the achieve any form of success? Do I feel any excitement at the chance of a British born Emigré driver taking the F1 title in his second season?

The answer is no, not really, not any more.


God that feels better.

 

[jimbo]

Bloody hell, the site's been taken over by grumpy old men

So it seems

 

[irart]

So the BBC has got Formula 1 back - yawn - let's hope that they retain Moto Grand Prix coverage as well. Real racing with overtaking and excitement!

 

[Oily]

So the BBC has got Formula 1 back - yawn - let's hope that they retain Moto Grand Prix coverage as well. Real racing with overtaking and excitement!

Here here.
Now on to F1,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I hope they re-use Fleetwood Mac's song 'The Chain' for the intro :-worship

 

[Yeshi]

i wonder if this bid has something to do with the recent cut backs at the bbc??

 

[Salty25]

Well I think it's great news, time for a change and no ads!

 

[Topper]

Well I think it's great news, time for a change and no ads!

I wonder which of the commentators will be defecting to the Beeb

 

[Salty25]

I wonder which of the commentators will be defecting to the Beeb

Not James Allen

 

[jimbo]

Martin Brundle I hope. Not Blundell though I hope.

 

[wod]

they have the old f1 theme tune on the bbc sport website hop that gets used again

 

[sprog]

Bring back Murray Walker! I wonder if the old licence fee will also go up by F1 proportions.....Glad its back on the beeb with no adverts lets hope the program maintains the high standards that ITV have managed...less the adverts!

 

[Salty25]

I hope they don't bring back 'The Chain' (the old theme tune), that would be so cheesy and old now. If they must insist though, they should have it redone by a band about at the moment, ie Kasabian.

Personally, I think the BBC wouldn't go far wrong if they gave their coverage a similiar feeling that the Champions League coverage on Sky Sports has.

 

[Oily]

I hope they don't bring back 'The Chain' (the old theme tune), that would be so cheesy and old now. If they must insist though, they should have it redone by a band about at the moment, ie Kasabian.

Wash your mouth out Salty
It's classic Fleetwood Mac and should stay that way,i rather not have it 'spoiled' by another band although i do like Kasabian

 

[rolfw]

I agree, The chain is a classic piece of music and is now synonymous with formula 1, well at least it was when it was interesting. ;)

Don't re-record it, it cannot be improved, it is iconic.

 

[Salty25]

I just think if you bring back 'The Chain', you bring back all those Gentlemen's Club connotations that F1 has been trying so hard to get rid of.

ITV can be criticised until the cows come home, but what can't be said is that they have been stuck in the past in terms of presentation (not that they have, as a network, much of a past in F1 to get stuck back in!!!).

I reckon they will make a totally new theme anyway, whether that be commissioned especially or taken from what's out there already.

 

[rolfw]

Gentleman's Club salty? It has become much more of one in recent years, the entrance fee now being in hundreds of Millions rather than Millions.