Quote Originally Posted by acescribe View Post
The BBC have a contract with F1 - they would have to buy their way out of that contract (remember with their previous one it was they who did the deal with Sky to do half and half, who took it to Bernie, who agreed) It is possible they could go highlights only, but that would still need a renegotiation.

I think the BBC dropping F1 - infact ALL sport - is probably inevitable, but it wont be for 2016.
I have my reservations about the BBC being the ones who came up with the idea of approaching Sky. It has been a pattern across Europe where satellite channels have been picking up the rights and in some case all of the rights. I think the BBC tried to get out of their contract completely back in 2012 and Bernie gave the option of splitting he coverage. There were too many coincidences with what is happening with other countries around the same time.

The sad thing is this approach has ruined the following in countries like Italy, France and Portugal. Britain is down terms of viewers yet it's all being largely ignored because the money is there. It could still be a possibility that Sky do not renew their current contract and it makes you wonder where it will be offered. BT Sport is an obvious choice I think, but they need at least highlights on a FTA channel if F1 wishes to remain relevant in many of these economies.