F1 BBC/SKY

[Simon Varnam]

BBC looses exclusive rights to F1 - Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

There is no way on this planet that I would pay Murdoch/SKY one penny to watch my favourite sport. I want to watch a race that is not interrupted by adverts and that is presented by a knowledgeable crew which is what the BBC have.

I fear you are about to loose 1 fan in me and I sure I will be joined by thousands of others.

F1 MUST stay free to air

Simon

[Heidi]

When I saw the announcment I was gutted. I actually do have Sky Sports buy the rest of my F1 mad family don't so I can see that from next year I will be hosting F1 parties but F1 has such a huge fan base partly because of its free viewing on the BBC / ITV in recent years. If sky had bought the rights to a channel you could get on Freeview it would be fine but this is harsh. Not only do fans now have to subscribe to Sky but to Sky Sports. Absolutely shot themselves in the foot.

[Vince Goff]

>:(upsWhat the hell is going on with the BBC for allowing Sky to get their grubby hands on F1.If my memory serves me well Bernie said that F1 would stay on free to air channels,how times have changed. IT seems yet again total dissregard for the many F1 fans(lets make some more money),and sod everyone.Come Eddy &David get Bernie's backside on saturday's programme and tell us why this deal was done.I am so angy about this Yours Vince Goff.

[TC]

As it will remain partially free to air, Bernie will say he hasn't reneged on his promise.

If the outcome is the loss of David Croft's inane commentary, let's rejoice.

[Dazzzzer]

this is so wrong iv been watching F1 all my life not any more they can go shove it what were you thinking Bernie

[Jill Simpson]

i am gutted Bernie said F1 was safe now this. Better not to watch at all than watch half, it would be too frustrating. Come on BBC team get a campaign going to save our F1

[Matthew Andrew]

BERNIE U IDIOT U ARE AN ABSOLUTE IDIOT WHY WHY WHY WHY BBC WERE BRILLIANT FOR ME I WILL NOT BE WATCHING F1 AFTER THIS SEASON SKY ARE RIP OFF MERCHANTS £40.00 A MONTH TO WATCH F1 YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LOST THOUSAND'S OF F1 FANS

[Psyserver]

I was absolutely infuriated when I heard the news. Sky Sports is an additional expense at a time when we are all pushed for cash. BBC "half cover" may as well be no cover. One patronising comment that "F1 is an expensive sport and fans need to understand that"- well Mr Big..we are the people that put the huge money into your pockets. Sadly, very very sadly, this will be the end of following F1 for me. Increasingly contrived manipulated and exploited it has already deteriorated into a travesty of the original sport..this is the end. I do hope fans will let sponsors know what they feel about this. Bernie, weasel words and dirty deals - we will not forget.

[rigsby]

BERNIE U IDIOT U ARE AN ABSOLUTE IDIOT WHY WHY WHY WHY BBC WERE BRILLIANT FOR ME I WILL NOT BE WATCHING F1 AFTER THIS SEASON SKY ARE RIP OFF MERCHANTS £40.00 A MONTH TO WATCH F1 YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY LOST THOUSAND'S OF F1 FANS
not surprised the way he is hes probably in bed with murdoch

[lamplighter]

No more F1 for me,Who is going to pay subscriptions for a programme only on once a fortnight?
I have sky, but not sky sports, as I rarely watch other sports, also as sky tend to move the transmissions around the 3 sports channels, you would have to sign up to all three so as not to miss a race
Why o Why did the BBC bid for F1 if they cant afford to run it should have left it with ITV at least it would still be free to air

[FlyingFox]

It’s a sad day indeed that F1 will be going over to Sky. That bloody company think they own the TV rights to the planet and will stomp on anyone to get what they want, even the BBC, who’s coverage of F1 is excellent. Great build up in the qualifying and race programmes with an all round experienced team. EJ, DC, Jake Humphreys and Martin Brundle who’s knowledge about F1 is surpassed only by Murray Walker.

I can remember watching the first race of the now defunct A1GP on Sky with that stupid blonde bint who just didn’t have a clue about motor racing. If that’s the future of F1 broadcasting in this country then the sport is doomed, lost revenue for the teams and lost interest in the sport for the armchair viewer.

If FOTA take this lying down then I’ll be surprised.

Bernie Ecclestone should go throw himself under the Safety Car, the bloody turncoat.

[electrophotic]

I've completely lost interest in TV football since Sky got their grubby hands on the Premiership.

I used to watch all the boxing on TV when the BBC used to show it - not any more.

After this F1 season I won't be watching that either. Remember when ITV got it, and they interrupted a race 5 laps from the end to put adverts on? Sky sucks. Sky are ruining TV sport. I won't pay £40 a month just for 19 interrupted races.

BERNIE: THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR F1 - your audience will evaporate.

[Simon Varnam]

It seems that a few of you agree with me - Thanks

One suggestion I have - Make a formal complaint to the BBC here www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/

They currently have 25 pages worth of very unhappy customers on the sports editors blog that explains the decision. They have refered my comment for further consideration. I only proposed scrapping Eastenders to save some money!

I hope FOTA will step in and not ratify this

[FlyingFox]

Here is my complaint to the BBC:

I understand the cutbacks the BBC have to make in these tough economic times but why Formula 1. Why not get rid of Cash in the attic or Bargain Hunters, neither of which is more popular than F1. Even better scrap Deadenders oh sorry, Eastenders. That program for people with manic depression.

This is a dark day for free-to-air TV when the BBC just roll over and die without putting much thought into the very people who you charge a substantial amount of money just to have a TV in their homes and decide to scrap a sport which has its very roots in the UK.

Barbara Slater should hang her head in shame in what she has done today.

BBC the Blown Budget Corporation

[FlyingFox]

Jul 29, 2011 16:50:23 GMT -5 @Simon Varnam said:

It seems that a few of you agree with me - Thanks

One suggestion I have - Make a formal complaint to the BBC here www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/forms/

They currently have 25 pages worth of very unhappy customers on the sports editors blog that explains the decision. They have refered my comment for further consideration. I only proposed scrapping Eastenders to save some money!

I hope FOTA will step in and not ratify this

Here is a response from the BBC Trust:

Formula 1, unhappy with the announcement of a new rights agreement with the BBC and Sky
Publication date: 29 July 2011

Complaint

We have received complaints from some Formula 1 fans who are unhappy that the BBC will no longer have exclusive rights to broadcast the sport from 2012.

The BBC's response

We know that Formula 1 has an extremely passionate following in the UK and that some fans will be disappointed that not all races will be available exclusively live on the BBC from next season.

We are operating in a very tough financial climate and in common with all areas of the BBC, BBC Sport is having to make significant cost savings over the next few years in order to operate within the constraints of the licence fee settlement, therefore we have to make some difficult choices.

We believe this deal represents good value for money for licence fee payers. We retain live coverage of half of the race weekends and we will have extended highlights of the remaining races so we are pleased that all of the action from Formula 1 for the next seven seasons will remain on BBC television. Online coverage of the race weekends that we broadcast will remain the same, and we will carry all the news and reports from the rest of the season. Radio coverage will not change whilst the most popular races - the British Grand Prix, the Monaco Grand Prix and the final race of the season will continue to be broadcast live on BBC One.