[Rumours] UK F1 to Channel 4 ?

[Marbot]

No 'red button', and ads too!

http://www.pitpass.com/44067-Channel...lks-to-host-F1

[duke_toaster]

Notwithstanding that this sounds extremely unlikely, surely the free practice could go on to the website or More4?

[Marbot]

Only if the budget stretches that far.

[duke_toaster]

The rights would probably come with the race/quali rights anyway. You are right about budgets, I guess would be reflected in terms of talent and presentation (expect a London studio; the world athletics press release is ambiguous as to if they are going to have the whole lot there or not).

EDIT : If it were to happen, you couldn't rule out them getting Rick Edwards to present the coverage ...

[Sodemo]

So the BBC is trying to get out of it this year? As in 2011 would be the last year it covers F1?

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

So the BBC is trying to get out of it this year? As in 2011 would be the last year it covers F1?

It's a rumour. But the BBC are cutting back on a large scale, and that's not a rumour.

[ChrisPage]

That report sounds like absolute horse-what-not. I'll buy a chocolate hat of course in case I need to eat it, but it sounds like rubbish.

When the absolute best an article has is 'A spokesman said...' and that 'spokesman' clearly isn't from channel 4 then I have trouble taking it seriously

[Marbot]

That's nothing! Apparently someone at the City of Austin council meeting has just said that Murdoch is going to buy F1. Stranger things.....

[duke_toaster]

Off topic comment alert I have to type this or my brain will explode! One bizzare thought I had, possibly after a bit too much intoxicating liquor, was that if FOTA were to form their own series they'd go straight to Endemol to produce the coverage and that they'd produce one commentary with pit reporters for the whole English-speaking world and otherwise one per language Thanks for reading, you've been a wonderful audience. Don't forget to try the veal and tip your waitress. We now return you to the topic

[Paradise City]

I wouldn't mind too much if they clipped down on the ads compared with ITV. ITV had a nutty amount of ads. It seemed like that at least.

There's also those few dippy mini-CH4 channels where there's nothing but repeats. Stick free practice in there.

It's a pity they don't do something like what America does. If none can afford to do it right on their own then split it between the broadcasters.

I'd say if it's going to CH4 or any of the terristerial channels for that matter Bernie better be ready for a BIG discount.

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I wouldn't mind too much if they clipped down on the ads compared with ITV. ITV had a nutty amount of ads. It seemed like that at least.

There's also those few dippy mini-CH4 channels where there's nothing but repeats. Stick free practice in there.

It's a pity they don't do something like what America does. If none can afford to do it right on their own then split it between the broadcasters.

I'd say if it's going to CH4 or any of the terristerial channels for that matter Bernie better be ready for a BIG discount.

The ITV ads increased over time too. It used to be 3 ads per break in 1997, at the end in 2008 it was 5-6 ads per break, so pretty much double.

[ujoint]

Originally Posted by Marbot

That's nothing! Apparently someone at the City of Austin council meeting has just said that Murdoch is going to buy F1. Stranger things.....

I'm a little late on this one and I heard the same thing Marbot. Must say left me shaking my head. If this topic has legs might want to have it's own thread. Just sayin. So, here is some really recent news about Mr. Murdoch's proposed take over of the premeire racing series of the world (that woould be F1 ya all). "Murcoch doesn't even know who runs F1" from PITPASS.COM. here: http://tinyurl.com/3wxoqp3I wouldn't bet a dime for or against this, dealing with BE and RM.

[Flat12-Aircool]

The irony of this story is that Channel 4 have been trying to get its grubby hands on a slice of the license fee for years now.

I think some of these rumours are being produced by people at the BBC, to try and get a more favourable deal next time from Bernie.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by Flat12-Aircool

The irony of this story is that Channel 4 have been trying to get its grubby hands on a slice of the license fee for years now.

The problem is that as a publically owned public service broadcaster they don't always have enough public money to do what they do. That's why they show things like Big Brother, to cross-subsidise the more public service elements. The thought of privatizing Channel 4 keeps on being suggested, but it would just turn it in to a carbon copy of ITV.

[jab]

Originally Posted by Flat12-Aircool

I think some of these rumours are being produced by people at the BBC, to try and get a more favourable deal next time from Bernie.

I'd have said it was the other way around - a leak from Bernie to try and get the Beeb to pay more, by showing there is free to air interest in F1. That it comes from Pitpass, one of Bernie's favourite leaking points, backs that up

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by jab

I'd have said it was the other way around - a leak from Bernie to try and get the Beeb to pay more, by showing there is free to air interest in F1. That it comes from Pitpass, one of Bernie's favourite leaking points, backs that up

Ah! 'tis true that Pitpass has links with Bernie (allegedly). Hence the stories regarding the circuits taking action over the new engine formula, which Bernie is so against, only appearing mainly on pitpass.

Ron Walker (Aussie GP promoter) is a buddy of Ecclestones and he apparently sent a letter to the FIA, last Thursday, stating that 17 out of the 19 current circuit promoters were against the new engine formula. I would suggest that Bernie wasn't going to do anything to stop him from doing that, and that he might, instead, let it be known that it was going to happen.

No surprise then that the engines are now V6 units with an rpm limit set at 15,000 rpm. Which, I should point out, some are still not happy with.

[jab]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Ah! 'tis true that Pitpass has links with Bernie (allegedly). Hence the stories regarding the circuits taking action over the new engine formula, which Bernie is so against, only appearing mainly on pitpass.

Ron Walker (Aussie GP promoter) is a buddy of Ecclestones and he apparently sent a letter to the FIA, last Thursday, stating that 17 out of the 19 current circuit promoters were against the new engine formula. I would suggest that Bernie wasn't going to do anything to stop him from doing that, and that he might, instead, let it be known that it was going to happen.

Indeed. Did you read Saward's article on it? Really interesting

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by jab

Indeed. Did you read Saward's article on it? Really interesting

Yes. One of his best.

[The Real DMN]

Originally Posted by Flat12-Aircool

The irony of this story is that Channel 4 have been trying to get its grubby hands on a slice of the license fee for years now.

Channel 4 has always got some of the licence fee, its state owned.

[bella]

we're counting pitpass as a credible source now? desperate times...

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by bella

we're counting pitpass as a credible source now? desperate times...

The whole story does sound quite far fetched as we know, I'm filing any thoughts about what they'd do as purely hypothetical. I would have thought Channel 5 would be more likely than C4.

[RTH]

The BBC revealed just recently that each GP costs them £3M so that is £60M per year.
I cannot imagine Ch 4 or 5 or anyone else for that matter as a UK only broadcaster being able to spend that sort of money.
In this month's 'Motor Sport' the subject is discussed. Global viewing figures have reduced over the past 3 years.
The biggest TV audiences are China ,Brazil, Japan ,Germany and Italy.

Whoever ends up owning F1 , whether it is free to air, with adverts, or pay per view or indeed not broadcast at all to Britain will only be a side issue.
In the 60s and up to '78 typically only 3 GPs were broadcast Silverstone, Monaco and Monza, then often only periodic reports or maybe next day filmed highlights . Other than that you had to rely on the radio or next days newspapers, you might hear the first 3 home on a radio news bulletin.
Perfectly possible we could again end up with close to no coverage if they hold out for cost levels no one can commercially pay, other than perhaps some way on the internet.
I would not think there is a demand for this on a pay basis comparable with premier football.

[strider]

For what it's worth the boss of Channel 4 at the relevant level has either just changed or is about to change. For several years C4 has shown highlights of British F3 and British GT, but there's a small question mark over whether that will continue under new man. He may decide, for example, that he doesn't like motor sport and favour coverage of another sport. Or he may, just possibly, think that British F3/GT is too low a level for C4 and that F1 is the way to go. Time will tell.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by strider

For what it's worth the boss of Channel 4 at the relevant level has either just changed or is about to change. For several years C4 has shown highlights of British F3 and British GT, but there's a small question mark over whether that will continue under new man. He may decide, for example, that he doesn't like motor sport and favour coverage of another sport. Or he may, just possibly, think that British F3/GT is too low a level for C4 and that F1 is the way to go. Time will tell.

Obvious caveat here is that the SRO British events are likely to be paying for the production. C4 are becoming more of a big ticket channel for sports with the World Athletics Championships and the 2012 Paralympics. Note that the horse racing coverage is, IIRC, subsidised by the horse racing industry. Rumours of C4 dropping horse racing have circulated in the past.

[courageous]

Poppycock

If Auntie did dump F1 (which is at the peak of it's popularity - so surely defines 'public service') then the broadcaster is not relevant (adverts aside) more the production company that matters