Jeremy Clarkson suspended over "fracas" with producer

Commercial channels will worry about upsetting advertisers, and sponsors.

Here's a left field idea, Netflix ?

So that's it then. Top Gear is effectively dead, at least in it's current format. Hammond and May have said they won't continue hosting the show without Clarkson, and their current contracts with the BBC are about to end, so it would seem unlikely they'll be renewing.

If there's any new series of Top Gear after this, it's highly likely it'll have a new team of presenters, and possibly a new format. How long it lasts with all new presenters and/or new format ... it'll probably plod along for one or two more series, then it'll be quietly dropped.

Does anyone know if its just his BBC contract for TV Top Gear that's not being renewed or is it also his BBC Worldwide contract which covers things such as TopGear Live?

I could see Netflix or perhaps an American network having a go at reviving 'Top Gear' (with a different name lol)

Would be an entirely different concept on Netflix .... The show relies on collective viewing, live feedback and 'buzz', Having it watched haphazardly on a narrowcast basis would destroy that.

True, but I think someone is definately going to make him an offer, and with May and Hammond's current contracts soon ending, I don't think they'd need much persuading to move.

Here's another left field idea: Dave?

Does it; how ? Most people I know (myself included) PVR it, and watch(ed) it during the week,

Knowing the BBC they'll think its now a good idea to sell off the Top Gear IP/brand/etc for what sounds like a reasonable amount, only to realise its about half what it actually brings in by itself.

It would require a sponsor, which might be tricky, or get tricky, and the ad breaks would destroy
the flow (yes I know Dave show it, and I find it virtually unwatchable on there)

It would however make it much easier to export internationally where it is shown with adverts. All the options are compromises in comparison to staying on the BBC, unfortunately.


EDIT: Also - Tony Hall has just said in an interview on BBC News that the remaining episodes of the current series of Top Gear will be made, without Clarkson obviously.

True, but could Dave actually afford the production costs, which must be 500k to 1million per hour ?

Infact without building in some inane 1 quid per Text competition into each show, could any commercial channel afford the show (retaining its current very high production values ?)