[TV] BBC F1 coverage in 2010

[jab]

I must admit I am disappointed with the BBC this off-season, namely with their website "gossip column" - i.e. just linking to everyone else's articles - whilst not producing that many articles themselves. Now there are plenty of people out there who would cut their right arms off for a chance to write some articles for the BBC website, even for nothing - I know I would. There are loads of good writers out there that could do a very good job - perhaps they could even have a rotational guest writer column every so often. It just seems a bit thin on the ground

And what they have produced has continued to be quite dumbed down in comparison to the specialist sites - nothing against the BBC journos themselves as they're probably under instruction to do so from their superiors (such is the BBC way), but I feel sometimes that my intelligence is being insulted with some rather basic articles. There are a few good websites out there that do great articles that, although not necessarily my taste, do great articles that appeal to more casual fans without being too dumbed down - F1 Fanatic is one such example. And there are some good articles on there (like this). But sometimes they go too far. We've also not heard anything from any of the BBC team since the end of the season, which is a shame

On the plus side, we've had some coverage of testing for the first time, including some good videos, but in terms of live updates, they're not as frequent or detailed as the other specialist sites - although Autosport have now started their Live service (a great idea and long overdue), without it, I'd still rather read badly-translated pages on other websites than the BBC's updates. I was also away from the internet for the weekend and had to use Ceefax to catch up with testing - unfortunately they didn't bother reporting anything from Friday and it seems they only bothered reporting from Saturday because Lewis was fastest

Apologies if this sounds like a bit of a rant, but I just hope this is not going to be indicative of the standard of TV coverage this year - as many will remember, ITV started brilliantly as well, but as early as 1998, it was going downhill, namely with the dropping of Simon Taylor from the team that year, and gradually become more Brit-focused and too dumbed down

The Beeb got off on the right foot, but I'm concerned that they may repeat that, especially with Lewis and Button on the same team - I fear we'll get a lot on McLaren and not much on everyone else. Nothing wrong with giving the Brits attention but you can go overboard on that, like ITV did. I just hope they listen to the fans and their suggestions instead of just pretending they don't exist

So, roll on 2010. Another year of Legard and co

[Greem]

Look at their accounts on Twitter, and marvel at the level of coverage. This year is the first year of truly detailed coverage of testing, with the BBC team, Autosport and several "indies" covering it in depth in near real time.
When you factor in how the off season used to be - we had to wait until Thursday to see what happened up until Tuesday - this year is a revelation, and Auntie is playing her part.

[Adam43]

You need a more sensational headline to match the sentiment. Something like "BBC fails to report nothing has happened".

Roebuck was chatting to Brundle in his Motorsport column this month. In it Brundle mentioned that the F1 got many more viewers for the after event red button coverage than football and rugby. I thought that was very good.

I think the beeb had the coverage about right. They need it in HD, but that isn't down to only them. Beeb should cover the testing, I suppose, but I hope they never go down the road of posting stories for the sake of it. There are other websites out there and beeb shows you the way to them. They are completing the brief wonderfully.

Their main job is to show the race, and they do that very well. To be fair that is all I require of them. Although I do find myself preferring their web coverage than even the specialist press who find they have to write articles to justify their existence.

[jab]

Originally Posted by Greem

Look at their accounts on Twitter, and marvel at the level of coverage. This year is the first year of truly detailed coverage of testing, with the BBC team, Autosport and several "indies" covering it in depth in near real time.
When you factor in how the off season used to be - we had to wait until Thursday to see what happened up until Tuesday - this year is a revelation, and Auntie is playing her part.

Yes, the twittering has been very good. I'm not Legard's biggest fan but he's vastly gone up in my estimations for getting an account - got to have balls to do something like that with all the flak he's received over the last year. So I'll try and refrain from criticism this year for that reason alone

However, I don't necessarily agree with your point on the off season. I still think the Beeb are lacking in terms of articles - this isn't a new thing either, as they've always been a bit short in the winter. Twitter's nice and all that but it would be nice to have something a bit more detailed. You can't just put all your eggs in one basket, especially when there aren't even links on the BBC's F1 page to the said Twitter accounts

All I'd like is something befitting their coverage. ITV always had a good website and have continued it even after losing the coverage - it was/is run by Haymarket afaik. I know the BBC are outsourcing their F1 TV coverage from 2011 - perhaps they could do with the same for the website, albeit keeping Sarah Holt and Andrew Benson on as they are good writers

[Fox89]

I know the BBC are outsourcing their F1 TV coverage from 2011

They're what!? That sounds bad...I like the BBC coverage as it is. What does 'outsourcing coverage' consist of, do you know?

[Knowlesy]

I don't know what it is, but over the past couple of years I have found myself frequenting the BBC news section far more often than autosport.

I think you can have too much news, too many articles nowadays. Where once I lapped it up, now I groan at yet another "(driver X) eyes (target Y)" boreathon. Now that is insulting.

Now I just watch the race and read the monthly magazines really.

From the TV perspective, BBC are top notch. How can anyone even complain, let alone compare any single aspect to ITV? Come back when they replace Jake and DC with Rosenthal and Jardine.

[jab]

Originally Posted by Fox89

They're what!? That sounds bad...I like the BBC coverage as it is. What does 'outsourcing coverage' consist of, do you know?

Well, at the moment it is done in-house by the BBC themselves. However, after this season, they're going to do what ITV did and invite an outside company to organise it. I should think it'll be the same faces presenting and commentating - the main changes will probably be behind the scenes. Or at least I hope so - I doubt they'll mess with a good thing but...

North One were in charge of ITV's coverage. From a complete outsiders' POV, I'd have said they are likely to be in contention, given their experience

[GroupOfOne]

Much of the BBC's outside broadcast content (e.g. sport) is produced by outside companies, so I wouldn't worry about it. The chances are a lot of the stuff you watch on the BBC either comes up with a little logo at the end of the credits saying 'Produced by xxx' or is done on a white label basis.

I know one of the major companies doing OB stuff for the BBC (from producing entire programmes to hiring of equipment to the Beeb) is staffed and run by ex-BBC employees, so it's not going to suddenly become a mess. As jab says, North One did the same for ITV.

Hadn't heard of the BBC's plan before though, is there a particular link to it or is it just a story that's out there without being formally announced?

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

I don't know what it is, but over the past couple of years I have found myself frequenting the BBC news section far more often than autosport.

I think you can have too much news, too many articles nowadays. Where once I lapped it up, now I groan at yet another "(driver X) eyes (target Y)" boreathon. Now that is insulting.

Now I just watch the race and read the monthly magazines really.

I'm similar. My enjoyment of the sport is much improved because of it.

The specialist press seem to battle over quantity. However I find that a monthly summary is sufficient too.

[jab]

Originally Posted by GroupOfOne

Hadn't heard of the BBC's plan before though, is there a particular link to it or is it just a story that's out there without being formally announced?

Open secret. Seen it mentioned on a few different forums. I don't think there is actual confirmation but the source is reliable - someone who has leaked info onto forums in the past about the BBC coverage that has later transpired to be accurate

[chunder]

The monthly and weekly press to a certian extent barttle over quantity because in their belief we all are utterly obssessed with F1. They try and win us over with endless rubbish we dont really need to know!

I have never understood this and believe it to be the work of people who look at surveys and polls rather than real people.

I like reading about all sorts of things and am interested in genuine breakthroughs and detail, not refurbed press releases!!

[Adam43]

I don't think the monthly press (er Motorsport) goes for quantity. They chose the most relevant. No need to fill papes, especially when the rest of the article is full of interesting articles.

[jab]

I enjoy reading the rumours, even if most of them transpire to be nonsense. Gives us something to talk about

[Knowlesy]

I think as you grow older you will tire of them immensely.

[White flag man]

Would really like to see them broadcast late night highlights of the race on BBC 1 or 2, so that those who have been spectating/racing.marshalling can see what happened.

[strider]

Originally Posted by jab

North One were in charge of ITV's coverage. From a complete outsiders' POV, I'd have said they are likely to be in contention, given their experience

James Allen is a favourite of North One...

[JackN]

I'm with Mr jab on this one. If I was working for the beeb (and as an aspiring young commentator thats the aim ) then I would go out to Jerez for free to report from there! And whilst i understand the 'oversaturation' viewpoints; the BBC website as an actual source for F1 news is pretty poor, even during the season. I cant knock their TV output, but autosport or even ITV is a much better source of information. I think they are really missing a trick to be honest, they could have ALL F1 in one place, highlights and news on one site.

I also agree with White Flag Man (so sorry, we marshalled together at Riches for 6 hours in the fog at the 2CV 24hour race but i have completley forgotten your name ), a late night terrestrial highlight show would be great.

[duke_toaster]

Originally Posted by White flag man

Would really like to see them broadcast late night highlights of the race on BBC 1 or 2, so that those who have been spectating/racing.marshalling can see what happened.

They do have highlights, but at 7pm on BBC3. They are put on the iPlayer though.

[skells22]

just found out that on Radio 5 live will have to use another person as Ant will be busy on Bahrain, Spain and Canada (Le Mans 24 for the Canada race)

[Jamesy-18]

Murray Walker!

[jab]

Johnny, hopefully

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by jab

Johnny, hopefully

Cecotto? What's his English like?

[jab]

No, I mean Servoz-Gavin

[skells22]

as it is not long to go before Bahrain we find out soon who will take over for Ant for those 3 races that i said about.

[jab]

OK, this looks much more positive

BBC Sport will have an extensive presence in Barcelona, with expert analysts Martin Brundle and David Coulthard, commentator Jonathan Legard, pit-lane reporters Ted Kravitz and Lee McKenzie and journalist Sarah Holt all attending.

They will all be feeding into our coverage on the BBC Sport website, which will include live text commentary on all four days and extensive end-of-day reports.

At the end of the test, on Monday next week, we will have video interviews with all the leading drivers, as well as analysis of what it all meant from Ted.