One possible solution is to run commercial breaks "Side by Side" with the live track action (which Versus does for its Indy Car coverage in the U.S. - ESPN have also been known to do this during their NASCAR coverage).
RTL do for some (but not all) ad breaks during their F1 coverage. Its not allowed here- Sky have a special exemption for 'Soccer Saturday' because its only text.
Something in my memory says ITV considered that idea for F1, but Ofcom rejected it ?
Yes, it's a no-no here. The problem is that there needs to be a clear division between ads and programmes.
Thanks for tuning in: We've been brilliant, exclaim Beeb and Humphrey
'Good afternoon and welcome to live, uninterrupted coverage of the Hungarian Grand Prix,' said baby-faced Jake Humphrey at the start of Sunday's programme with implied emphasis on the lack of ad breaks.
'In high definition, here on the BBC,' he added.
Humphrey, who has grown into a presenter as slick as a super-soft tyre, will not be able to say that in 2012 now Sky Sports, complete with interruptions, have become the main broadcast rights holders in Britain.
There followed an excruciating piece of navel gazing by Humphrey, which not only sought to justify the BBC's backward step but smacked of self-glorification.
'I just think it is important to say on behalf of the three of us,' said Humphrey, standing next to pundits Eddie Jordan and David Coulthard, 'and the entire hard-working, dedicated and talented production team, that we have seen the reaction, read the messages you've been sending into us in your thousands and we are touched and moved by the fact you hold our coverage in such high regard.
'But there was a real danger that F1 was going to be lost completely from the BBC and, in the current climate, the BBC believe the best deal is for you to have 10 races live with the BBC from next season and 10 races with extended highlights.
'For the rest of this season we will give it the kind of dedicated and passionate under-the-skin coverage that we have since 2009. I know the BBC team will continue to deliver it for you brilliantly from next season onwards and it means F1 stays on the BBC for a number of years to come.'
Well, to adapt Francis Urquhart from House of Cards: I might very well think that; you couldn't possibly comment.
Make that shouldn't.
It is not for Humphrey to talk about brilliance, especially when next year motor racing fans with access to only terrestrial television are being given a book minus half the pages.
The award-winning BBC coverage will be missed.
Just a couple of years ago, however, everyone thought the award-winning ITV coverage would be missed when rights were transferred back to the Beeb after 12 years.
It was, but not for long.
With the peerless Martin Brundle moving from ITV to BBC, life, gongs and his famous grid walk continued.
Brundle denied viewers that unique selling point of his on Sunday.
But a comedy tyre-change competition with Brundle and Coulthard taking on Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button proved an amusing contrast to the increasingly technical chat in the commentary box.
Should the otherwise excellent combination of Brundle and Coulthard go extraterrestrial, they would be advised to focus more on the man and less on the machine.
Of course, Sky Sports will do F1 brilliantly, to use Humphrey's terminology.
Expect long build-ups, glitzy production and plenty of punditry.
Expect no expense spared and Sky to do motor racing as well as they have done football, golf and rugby.
With the expertise of a sister company in the area of communication surveillance, watch out for much more interesting Team Radio snippets.
They seem to be stuck in a hole of "do we hate the BBC more than Sky?"!
One possible solution is to run commercial breaks "Side by Side" with the live track action (which Versus does for its Indy Car coverage in the U.S. - ESPN have also been known to do this during their NASCAR coverage).
RTL do for some (but not all) ad breaks during their F1 coverage. Its not allowed here- Sky have a special exemption for 'Soccer Saturday' because its only text.
CNBC do it to. I'd often wondered if Soccer Saturday did that in the UK, in Ireland our breaks during Soccer Saturday are full screen (as we are getting different adverts to the UK).
Appears that Setanta's Irish coverage of Formula One is unaffected for the duration it continues to run. In fact it may now get a dramatic increase in viewers for the races which are not on BBC One. I'd imagine Setanta will probably find it next to near impossible to renew their deal when it comes up though.
Just remind me once again how much the Beeb are spending on that BH extension in W1 ?
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?
I wasn't aware of any plans to dispose of Yalding, Brock, Western or HWH - though the last of these is in a bit of a grotty state, so I wouldn't be too surprised if it were to go.
Just remind me once again how much the Beeb are spending on that BH extension in W1 ?
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?
I wasn't aware of any plans to dispose of Yalding, Brock, Western or HWH - though the last of these is in a bit of a grotty state, so I wouldn't be too surprised if it were to go.
Yalding House is home to BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. They are moving to Broadcasting House - can't remember which year. I think they are having the 8th floor.
I wasn't aware of any plans to dispose of Yalding, Brock, Western or HWH - though the last of these is in a bit of a grotty state, so I wouldn't be too surprised if it were to go.
Radio 1/1Xtra are moving into BH, and I read somewhere the other week that the same thing is planned for Radio 2/6 eventually. I'd assumed they'd already moved out of HWH, I can't see them keeping it with the flashy new building across the road
Quote:
I think they are having the 8th floor.
Yes, keeping the noisy kids up in the attic by the sounds of it