F1 goes to Sky sports

[henners88]

Eddie Jordan now confirmed on the BBC for 2012. Result.

[strider]

Originally Posted by henners88

Eddie Jordan now confirmed on the BBC for 2012. Result.

That's my info as well. Two tweets straight off Twitter from a reliable source:

"Eddie Jordan is NOT part of the @SkySportsF1 team according to a report on RTE radio. Thank you Lord."

"Eddie Jordan will however be part of the BBC line up next year..."

[Peat]

Murdoch can now have a blank cheque from me as far as i'm concerned. ;p

[brands]

Originally Posted by henners88

Eddie Jordan now confirmed on the BBC for 2012. Result.

Excellent news, 20 EJ free weekends.

[boyracer019]

Originally Posted by strider

That's my info as well. Two tweets straight off Twitter from a reliable source:

"Eddie Jordan is NOT part of the @SkySportsF1 team according to a report on RTE radio. Thank you Lord."

"Eddie Jordan will however be part of the BBC line up next year..."

GPD?
Cut through the flim flam and Rob is usually spot on

[strider]

Breaking news from Twitter that will require translation, although nothing unexpected: @MartinHaven @OfficiallyGT is in. she tweeted earlier about tomorrow being a "huge" day. she did A1GP for @SkySports

If you haven't worked it out, @OfficiallyGT is the Twitter name for Georgie Thompson.

[strider]

Originally Posted by boyracer019

GPD?
Cut through the flim flam and Rob is usually spot on

Yes, GPD.

[strider]

I know, I should go to bed, have some sleep and wake up to the official announcement in the morning, but first one last tweet from Will Buxton:

"At the last count I believe it was Lazenby, Thompson, Rider, Croft, Brundle, Kravitz, Davidson plus a few others... Mansell rumoured too."

If that's right then surely it has to be Ben Edwards at the BBC. Finally.

[henners88]

Originally Posted by strider

I know, I should go to bed, have some sleep and wake up to the official announcement in the morning, but first one last tweet from Will Buxton:

"At the last count I believe it was Lazenby, Thompson, Rider, Croft, Brundle, Kravitz, Davidson plus a few others... Mansell rumoured too."

If that's right then surely it has to be Ben Edwards at the BBC. Finally.

I certainly hope so. At least the presenting team topic is one thing BBC viewers can smile about. Roll on 2012.

[henners88]

The Sky line up:

In an eagerly-awaited announcement, the station has confirmed that the hugely popular David Croft will join forces with Martin Brundle in the commentary box for each of the 2012's races, with Brundle on air during every day of each grand prix, dividing his time between paddock, pitlane and commentary box. The flexibility means that former F1 driver Anthony Davidsonwill be reunited with Croft for commentary duties for each of the weekend's practice sessions.

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/...l-2012-F1-team

[wolfhound]

And here's more

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/...e-up-explained

[MagnetON]

Originally Posted by henners88

The Sky line up:

http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/...l-2012-F1-team

Nice to see that Ted K is going their too!

[henners88]

Originally Posted by MagnetON

Nice to see that Ted K is going their too!

Yeah I was quite chuffed to see that too.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Well, at least all the Sky viewers will be able to enjoy Georgie's take on the art of driving a performance car after a drink or three. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz...6908-23407408/

I would have thought this would have caused her visa problems? Maybe she's going to be studio based.

It appears, as usual, Mr. Murdoch has been generous with his offers of renumeration. Can't blame people for looking after No 1. It will be a culture shock for some though, he does like to extract full "value" from his employees....

Overall, I think the BBC has a real opportunity here to keep and grow it's already flourishing viewing figures. Nobody is indispensable.

[Born Racer]

I see they're trying to spite the BBC by taking a wealth of their presenters (and probably making them more wealthy as well; I don't blame the team for moving). At least I imagine that's part of Sky's plan, other than the logical aspect of making it quicker and easier for the team to gel.

I remain to be convinced Sky will be for the more hardcore fan; for the more gossip-interested fan, I suspect. There's no need for such saturation of F1 programmes.

[Marbot]

I think that the loss of Martin Brundle alone will make F1 on the BBC seem like something very different to what it used to be.

[henners88]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I remain to be convinced Sky will be for the more hardcore fan; for the more gossip-interested fan, I suspect.

I don't think the two channels really separate who is hardcore and who is not. I consider myself to be a hardcore fan who spends alot of my spare time watching and reading up about F1 yet I'll be watching on the BBC. The slightly wealthier fans may be watching on Sky, but money doesn't buy you staus and passion..

[henners88]

Originally Posted by Marbot

I think that the loss of Martin Brundle alone will make F1 on the BBC seem like something very different to what it used to be.

It'll feel different but I think people need to open their eyes if they think Brundle is the best British commentator going. He's good and we're used to him, but he's replaceable and I'm sure the BBC will find better.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I remain to be convinced Sky will be for the more hardcore fan; for the more gossip-interested fan, I suspect. There's no need for such saturation of F1 programmes.

So because I can't afford to pay for Sky each month I'm only interested in gossip? Cheers!

[strider]

Originally Posted by henners88

It'll feel different but I think people need to open their eyes if they think Brundle is the best British commentator going. He's good and we're used to him, but he's replaceable and I'm sure the BBC will find better.

Ben Edwards would be a more than adequate replacement as far as I'm concerned, but there might be one sticking point and that is that he commentates on TOCA for ITV. I have no idea what the terms of the contract are, but with 20 F1 races, there must be some clashes, so there would have to be some negotiation.

[p-matt]

Originally Posted by strider

Ben Edwards would be a more than adequate replacement as far as I'm concerned, but there might be one sticking point and that is that he commentates on TOCA for ITV. I have no idea what the terms of the contract are, but with 20 F1 races, there must be some clashes, so there would have to be some negotiation.

Wasn't the issue before that BBC wanted to tie Ben to them so he couldn't commentate for ITV?

And I thought Brundle and Crofty don't get on? I can almost imagine the same derision from Brundle that he reserved exclusively for Legard.

[Flavio Galtieri]

Originally Posted by strider

Ben Edwards would be a more than adequate replacement as far as I'm concerned, but there might be one sticking point and that is that he commentates on TOCA for ITV. I have no idea what the terms of the contract are, but with 20 F1 races, there must be some clashes, so there would have to be some negotiation.

Good point Strider. Let's hope if possible there's a way around any contract problems.

Edwards on the BBC would blow the Sky package clean out of the water imho.
I hope it happens.

[strider]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I remain to be convinced Sky will be for the more hardcore fan; for the more gossip-interested fan, I suspect. There's no need for such saturation of F1 programmes.

I agree. I think the BBC got the balance exactly right and will presumably continue to do so. If you only wanted to watch qualifying and the race, you could, but if you also wanted to watch the free practice sessions and the post-race chat, you could do that, too, on the red button.

Wall-to-wall F1 for three days at every meeting isn't for me. There are other things in life!

[strider]

Originally Posted by p-matt

Wasn't the issue before that BBC wanted to tie Ben to them so he couldn't commentate for ITV?

And I thought Brundle and Crofty don't get on? I can almost imagine the same derision from Brundle that he reserved exclusively for Legard.

You may be right, but the point is that he can't do both 100%.

I've had a check and there are actually only five clashes next season, so it's not as bad as I thought. I'm hoping that the BBC and ITV will think that it's better to reach an agreement to repel the forces of Sky than let them have it all their own way.

My own view, without knowing, is that Crofty will talk too much for Brundle's liking, but if you read the Sky press releases Brundle is definitely leading the team, so I think he will get things adjusted to suit him.

[strider]

One person on the Sky list whose name hasn't attracted much attention yet is Natalie Pinkham, formerly of Radio 5 Live. If ever there was someone whose face was NOT made for radio it's her. She'll be in direct competition with Lee Mack, but I think she'll do a cracking job. You read it here first!