F1 to move to C4
Discussion
PRESS RELEASE so free use:
LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Britain's Channel 4 said on Monday it would broadcast 10 live Formula One races a season from 2016 to 2018, taking over the rights from the BBC to show a sport that commands loyal audiences following title holder Lewis Hamilton.
The Formula One World Championship had been previously carried by the BBC and pay-TV group Sky in a joint deal but media reports suggested last week that the BBC was looking to pull out of the contract due to cuts to its budget.
That had sparked speculation that ITV, the country's biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, would scoop the rights, but instead they went to Channel 4, a network that is publicly owned and funded by advertising.
It will broadcast 10 live races, including practice and qualifying sessions, plus highlights of all 21 Grands Prix. It will not show commercial intervals during the race.
Details of the deal were not disclosed.
"Formula One is one of the world's biggest sporting events with huge appeal to British audiences," Channel 4 Chief Executive David Abraham said.
I have to say that the move to C4 surprised me.
LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Britain's Channel 4 said on Monday it would broadcast 10 live Formula One races a season from 2016 to 2018, taking over the rights from the BBC to show a sport that commands loyal audiences following title holder Lewis Hamilton.
The Formula One World Championship had been previously carried by the BBC and pay-TV group Sky in a joint deal but media reports suggested last week that the BBC was looking to pull out of the contract due to cuts to its budget.
That had sparked speculation that ITV, the country's biggest free-to-air commercial broadcaster, would scoop the rights, but instead they went to Channel 4, a network that is publicly owned and funded by advertising.
It will broadcast 10 live races, including practice and qualifying sessions, plus highlights of all 21 Grands Prix. It will not show commercial intervals during the race.
Details of the deal were not disclosed.
"Formula One is one of the world's biggest sporting events with huge appeal to British audiences," Channel 4 Chief Executive David Abraham said.
I have to say that the move to C4 surprised me.
It's a pity this did not happen when BBC decided it couldn't be arsed to show all the races live anymore. I'm positive that when they sold rights to Sky in 2012 it was a breach of contract but nothing came of it because some bribary occurred somewhere.
It remains to be seen whether C4 is capable of delivering an impartial broadcast: BBC can't, and Sky is the absolute worst.
It would be nice if Coulthard, Lee McKenzie and Suzi Perry could transfer to C4, though i wouldn't be surprised if they turned up on Sky instead. However this now opens up the door for a possible Jake Humphrey return which would be awesome.
It remains to be seen whether C4 is capable of delivering an impartial broadcast: BBC can't, and Sky is the absolute worst.
It would be nice if Coulthard, Lee McKenzie and Suzi Perry could transfer to C4, though i wouldn't be surprised if they turned up on Sky instead. However this now opens up the door for a possible Jake Humphrey return which would be awesome.
C4 put a bid in when it ultimately went to Sky a few years ago. I think someone posted the prospectus on here and it was quite good. It'll be interesting to see who goes across from the BBC, or who else is pulled in to work on it. Also whether any of the current Beeb team go over to join Sky. Seems unlikely given they have a good (and large) team as it is.
Great news that C4 are showing the live races without commercial breaks - remembering the last time ITV had the rights you could be sure the ad break would be just when something crucial happened. Not that that happens much these days...
Good luck to them, they've a pretty good track record with sports.
Good luck to them, they've a pretty good track record with sports.
lbc said:
BarbaricAvatar said:
It would be nice if Coulthard, Lee McKenzie and Suzi Perry could transfer to C4,
I hope not, as they are the reason I stopped watching the BBC.As to BarbaricAvatar's hope of a Jake Humphrey return - it would indeed be awesome, but he gave up the F1 gig to spend more time with his wife and start a family, and I can't see him returning to a life of basically 6 months of the year away from home anytime soon.
The BBC say they have to save a total of £150 million and £35 million has to come from BBC sport.They say a significant chunk of this £35 million has come from dropping F1.
If we assume that a significant chunk of £35 million is approximately £30 million then this is what they have saved from dropping F1.For the F1 rights the BBC were paying £20 million a year for the next three years so that is a total of £60 million so if they are only saving £30 million that means Bernie has charged them a cancellation fee of £30 million.
Bernie is a crafty so in so as he gets a free £30 million from the BBC and probably charges Channel 4 more than £20 million for the rights per year.
If we assume that a significant chunk of £35 million is approximately £30 million then this is what they have saved from dropping F1.For the F1 rights the BBC were paying £20 million a year for the next three years so that is a total of £60 million so if they are only saving £30 million that means Bernie has charged them a cancellation fee of £30 million.
Bernie is a crafty so in so as he gets a free £30 million from the BBC and probably charges Channel 4 more than £20 million for the rights per year.
Edited by btcc123 on Tuesday 22 December 15:04
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