UK F1 coverage to return to the BBC !!!

[Giuseppe F1]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/65897


F1 UK coverage returns to the BBC

By Biranit Goren Thursday, March 20th 2008, 06:16 GMT


Formula One television coverage in the UK will return next year to the BBC following 12 seasons with ITV, the Formula One Administration announced today.

The BBC lost its rights to Formula One after the 1996 season, and it was since covered by ITV, with Martin Brundle serving as commentator for the past 12 years, alongside former BBC commentator Murray Walker and later ITV commentator James Allen.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has now concluded a five-year deal that will see Formula One return to BBC Sports, which will also have exclusive rights to radio, mobile and internet broadcasting.

"I am delighted to conclude this new deal with the BBC," Ecclestone commented. "It is an exciting time in Formula One and the BBC has some innovative new ideas to consolidate and expand our UK fan base."

Dominic Coles, BBC Sport Director of Sport Rights, added: "The biggest motorsporting event in the world is returning home after 12 years.

"We were delighted when Bernie Ecclestone approached us about the return of F1 to the BBC. F1 is a crown jewel of sports broadcasting, so to bring the rights back to their traditional home from 2009 is tremendously exciting.

"Fans will be able to enjoy uninterrupted, state of the art and innovative coverage from BBC Sport, across all of our TV, radio and new media platforms, for the first time since 1996."

[Giuseppe F1]

I think that ITV have done a TERRIFIC job over the past 12 years and I would sincerely hope that the base of the commentating/presenting team would be carried over to the BBC production :

Steve Rider, Martin Brundle, Louise Goodman (even James Allen - yeah I said it! )

[ShiftingGears]

Yeah, ITV are excellent. Would Martin Brundle and James Allen remain the F1 commentators?

[GridGirl]

Really wasn;t expecting to hear it on the news this morning.

Ahhhh F1 with no add breaks, never thought I'd see the day again. I really hope Martin moves over but ITV can keep James Allen.

[Knock-on]

Would "HE", could "HE" and should "HE" return to F1. On an interview this morning, MW didn't rule himself out

I can't wait for F1 to come home. I don't think ITV have done a good job apart from dumbing it down a bit for the masses although some individuals have done a great job.

[AndyRAC]

Blimey, that's a surprise, I'm sure I saw an article in the last few days somewere quoting ITV boss Michael Grade, as saying how important the F1 coverage was.
So what happens to Rider & co, and more importantly the Moto GP coverage?

[ATF]

No disrespect to the job ITV has done, but just to have no adverts again will be immense!

Brundle would be good to keep but get rid of James Allen and get Ben Edwards!

[Henry Cutts]

It's great it's going back to the BBC. no ads! and I think Brundle and Edwards would be good.

[Knock-on]

No disrespect to the job ITV has done, but just to have no adverts again will be immense!

Brundle would be good to keep but get rid of James Allen and get Ben Edwards!

Totally agree.

[AndySpeed]

Faaaantaaastic I would imagine the BBC will try very hard to keep the current commentary and production team.