Fleetwood Mac The Chain back in 2009

[Buleste]

Yes that's right F1 is back on the beeb next year which means all those years of humming the guitar riff from The Chain has pulled off.

[Harrison]

Wow! This is excellent news! Finally no more adverts breaking up the coverage! :)

You have to wonder how much this deal cost the BBC to get this back. ITV released the following statement:

"This was a straightforward commercial decision for ITV and we are pleased that Formula One will continue to be broadcast free-to-air," - said a spokesman for the broadcaster.

But do you think they really decided to drop the sport? Or did they really lose the contract because of some dispute with Bernie?

In contrast Bernie Ecclestone stated:

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

Innovative new ideas? Could this mean we will finally get F1 in hi def? Maybe even some interactive features during the race? I hope so!

I wonder who will be commentating next year? Will we finally be getting rid of that annoying James bloke? I do however hope they keep Martin on as he is the only good part of the ITV coverage.

[Buleste]

Maybe we could have some of the Top Gear boys doing the commentary. "Wow. Bloody hell thats fast."

[AlexJ]

Looks like Bernie has pulled the contract away from ITV, they had two years to run on it. Seems the Beeb will be paying about the same as ITV for the rights, which means for the first time ever, Bernie has done a deal on something other than money!

The lack of HD coverage is actually down to FOM (aka BernieTV). ITV won't have a HD channel until later this year, but even then the feed they get from FOM is still likely to be SD. Interactive is currently available on Premiere in Germany and on Sky Italia, so perhaps the Beeb will be offering that too. Let's hope so.

[TiredOfLife]

Never mind the adverts, the BBC coverage is better just because of The Chain.:thumbs:

[Harrison]

That is true. We will finally be getting back the "official" F1 tune.

[Buleste]

Dooo, do, de, de, de, de, de, de, de, dooooh!!!!! Air guitars out!!!


Maybe we should petition for the Hamster to drive the saftey car at the British Grand Prix in 2009? Or Captain Slow or Clarkson?

[Harrison]

:lol: If they had James in the safely car all the F1 cars would crash into each other behind him trying to slow down.

[v85rawdeal]

I do get the sense that the 'beeb' got it back because of the fact they already have a HD channel in place, with the facilities to 'upscale', if necessary (although I hope that they don't need to and can get full HD transmissions going.

Also, the 'beeb' also had stated that they will also be able to transmit on radio, which may not sound like much, but imagine the fun you could have driving along the motorway listening to the F1 commentary (maybe this deal will be sponsored by GATSO).

I think that ITV may very well have shot themselves in the foot, but probably have something in line to replace it (maybe Indy Car... or Gladiators!!!). The BBC have picked up what certainly looks to be a gold-mine, especially with all the buzz surrounding the new drivers and the recent rules changes to the season.

In the end though, all we can really do is speculate on the decision, hoping that the reasons become clear soon.

My fingers are crossed though, because I always preferred the BBC coverage, primarily because the presenters always seemed so much more knowledgeable than the ITV crew (which seemed to be mostly made up from the cast-offs from other sporting programs, or F1 drivers who's careers had been less than impressive. At least the BBC had the late James Hunt on their time)

Lets just hope that this season is a good one and generates more interest in the sport and the drivers.

[AlexJ]

Also, the 'beeb' also had stated that they will also be able to transmit on radio, which may not sound like much, but imagine the fun you could have driving along the motorway listening to the F1 commentary (maybe this deal will be sponsored by GATSO).

BBC Radio 5Live have already being doing this for years.

[v85rawdeal]

Well, that just shows you how little I listen to the radio...

[Buleste]

Andrew MacKinlay a Labour MP has raised questions over the BBC showing F1. He said the licence fee should be spent on "real sports rather than the wealthy industry of Formula One". Yet i bet he was one of the first to raise objections over the loss of the Premiership on BBC when that happened and you don't get much more of an elitist wealthy worldwide industry than that. If you live in Thurrock, Essex then do not vote for this complete arse who makes comments like that when the amount of money in the deal hasn't even been mentioned and is part of a government that wants to sustematically dismantle the BBC and privatise it. Thats my rant over with.

[AlexJ]

Yeah, the real sport dig is a bit crap really. Richard Hammond on Top Gear proved that no Joe Public can just jump into these cars and drive them. At least in F1 20% of the grid is made up of British drivers, and all but a couple of the cars are put designed and put together in the UK. The same couldn't be said of the top football teams.

[v85rawdeal]

Maybe we could have some of the Top Gear boys doing the commentary. "Wow. Bloody hell thats fast."


Good call, Buleste, the Beeb have indicated they DO intend to get the Top Gear boys involved in F1 (Just as long as Hamster doesn't drive...)

More details here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-540435/Top-Gears-Hamster-set-F1-BBC-pays-200m-screen-coverage.html)

[AlexJ]

Maybe we could have some of the Top Gear boys doing the commentary. "Wow. Bloody hell thats fast."


Good call, Buleste, the Beeb have indicated they DO intend to get the Top Gear boys involved in F1 (Just as long as Hamster doesn't drive...)

More details here (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-540435/Top-Gears-Hamster-set-F1-BBC-pays-200m-screen-coverage.html)

That would be the worst thing ever. I'm a fan of Top Gear and I'm a fan of F1 but that's like saying I'm a fan of ice-cream and a fan of beer. Great on their own, but not to be mixed. How would they have handled for example Kovaleinen's crash in Spain? SMASH WHAT AN IDIOT WALLOP, oh err, he's still in the car...

They'll want to drag Martin Brundle across, leave James Allen and Mark Blundell and get a proper sports presenter (not Richard 'I don't watch F1' Hammond).

[v85rawdeal]

I too would not be too happy about them doing the commentary, although Hammond would probably be a good addition, considering he has had experience in a F1 car and knows just how bloody hard they are to drive.

But the build up and post race stuff??? Hell, they may even make Kimi smile!

[AlexJ]

I too would not be too happy about them doing the commentary, although Hammond would probably be a good addition, considering he has had experience in a F1 car and knows just how bloody hard they are to drive.

But the build up and post race stuff??? Hell, they may even make Kimi smile!

I think within two races, none of the drivers would be willing to talk to them. And I doubt Richard or Jeremy would want to spend a further 16+ weekends away from their family.

[Harrison]

I agree. I don't think it would be a good idea as they need quite serious presenters for F1. Maybe they could instead do a pre and post race top gear spot talking about the build up and then post race highlights. That could allow them to still utilise the great top gear humour.

[Buleste]

@Alexj
Beer and Ice Cream you say? Not so much beer as Dog but how about this? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/2958702.stm)

By the way did you notice i joked about the Top Gear boys doing F1 on 20th March and the Mail (or Daily Fascist) had the story on the 21st March. Maybe they read this forum?

[TiredOfLife]

I've had whisky flavoured icecream so why not beer?
Will defo be trying the Newcastle Brown Icecream.
:guinness:

[AlexJ]

I've had whisky flavoured icecream so why not beer?
Will defo be trying the Newcastle Brown Icecream.
:guinness:


Last Updated: Tuesday, 3 June, 2003, 10:42 GMT 11:42 UK

Might be a bit past it's sell-by date.

[TiredOfLife]

Ale tastes better when matured.

[Buleste]

After watching the promo for the new season of F1 (The new rear wing on the cars make them all look crap BTW) The Chain is being used. W00T and a half!!!!!!!