BBC Surrenders half F1 rights to SKY

Just remind me once again how much the Beeb are spending on that BH extension in W1 ?

Perhaps they'd have been better off in some sheds near Heathrow if money is now tight (bit late now for the BH project I admit) ?

They can be terrible money wasters at times, beleive me !

Martin Brundle: "DC, who do you think the 7 drivers will be ahead of us in the Job Centre queue next year?"

Joke or biiter satire?

No - I think Brekkie was right first time round...

If you believe that the BBC licence fee freeze, and Tory media policy in general is not influenced heavily by Murdoch, then I think you might also believe in the tooth fairy and father christmas still.

The current Concorde agreement runs out before the new deal kicks in.

Googling it seems the preesnt (2009) agreement expires 31/12/2012 ?
When does the BBC/Sky deal actually start ?

One on line example, others available:-

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article6735906.ece

"The BBC and Sky will sit down before the season starts and pick their races according to an agreed formula, as happens with Sky/ESPN and Premier League football. Sky will screen every race, including practice and qualifying, while the BBC will air half of them live.

The BBC will get to pick three races (it has already chosen the British Grand Prix, Monaco and the final race of the season), then Sky will pick three that they will air exclusively, and the process will continue on a turn-by-turn basis. If there is an odd number, that race will fall to Sky.

It will be intriguing to see what tactics the pay-TV broadcaster employs. It could theoretically choose the three races running up to the conclusion of the season, which often decide the championship. Both sides say they are working in a spirit of co-operation and will share production resources and talent. It will be interesting to see if that spirit holds."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/jul/29/f1-new-tv-deal

Any reason why the BBC deal was only 3 years 2009-2011 whereas this new deal is 7 years 2012-2018?

The BBC has always made Pobyl y Cwm so that's not really an extra expense. I'm not sure where the 'radio stations in the middle east' comes from. The World Service is based in London and broadcasts around the world, not just the ME

The BBC deal was longer than 3 years, they just exercised a get out clause to exit/renegitoate the deal early, just like ITV did in 2008

How much will it save in the long term by moving everything there and getting rid of Yalding House, Bush House, Marylebone High Street, Brock House, Western House, Henry Wood House and of course TV Centre?

That's not to mention all the other buildings they've left/sold over the last 5-10 years as part of the scheme to locate everything on 2 sites - North Acton, Woodlands, Centre House, Threshold House, Union House, Network House etc. They lost a few when they privatised various bits of the corporation too, their property costs and revenue from selling sites must have saved a bit

What happened to the private money that was going into the BH project anyway?

It also could mean that the BBC don't get to choose not to screen a race, although if the BBC have 1-3, 7-9 and 13-15 I guess Sky get the ones the BBC don't want by default.

Of their first three picks Sky will surely include the first race of the season so they start off with an exclusive race, and then the penultimate two. After that I guess the BBC would schedule around existing agreements and go for a fairly even spread throughout the season. As the calendar seems to be roughly two races every three weeks I'd guess the BBC will go for one race out of every back to back session as much as they can.


Well the BBC deal was for five years, cut short by a get out clause two years early, exactly as ITV's was - and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a similar get out in this for the BBC at least, which if the licence fee remains frozen beyond 2015 they may be forced to exercise.

At the moment too longer contracts seem to be favoured by many sports bodies looking for a bit of security and stability. Most recent deals I've seen announced have been for at least five years.

Apart from in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. So, yes, hardly ever. Infact, only in the Ferrari / Schumacher years of domination in the early 2000s has the season been decided before the last couple of races.

Plus Brazil has started to become the pick as the final race of the season- its in prime time in Europe and is usually an exciting race at a great track so a very good pick.