My little experiment

[Mark]

Indeed we don't know if the BBC contract includes radio or not, possibly not. Remember that the BBC continued to broadcast radio commentary even when ITV had the contract to show the races.

[wedge]

Indeed we don't know if the BBC contract includes radio or not, possibly not. Remember that the BBC continued to broadcast radio commentary even when ITV had the contract to show the races.

Yes, the BBC do have live rights for radio broadcasts.

[Sonic]

Yes, the BBC do have live rights for radio broadcasts.

So they'll be looking for a replacement for Crofty? Simon Hill anyone? I think he'd be ace on the radio.

[Rollo]

A parallel experiment is going on in Australia with T20 Cricket. This Domestic Cricket competition was shown on free-to-air telly last year and managed to get reasonable crowds. This year the first two matches have been exclusively on Foxtel and as far as ratings have gone, a Midsomer Murders repeat and Going Postal outrated the T20 cricket.
Energy Australia who sponsor the Melbourne Stars have already hinted that poor TV subscriber rates will mean that they're thinking about pulling the plug. There were just over 12,000 at the SCG for the opening match, and just 23,496 at the MCG when organisers had hoped for 44,000.

It looks like the entire series is being playing for the benefit of TV subscribers in India and SE Asia, because the STAR TV is carrying it. Maybe that's what the intent of FOM is? Run races all over the world mainly for the benefit of subscribers on Pay TV in India and SE Asia?

[Mark]

Indeed. Formula 1 just needs to look at the likes of the WRC, used to be very popular due to good TV coverage - well for the British round anyway, and now a lack of TV coverage means nobody has heard of it.