BBC Formula 1: An update

if you get to show full re runs of eastern races and 90 minute highlights of european races why have you chosen China and Korea? this should have been European races to maximise your output.
Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Europe seem like poor choices compared to races like Canada, which you have got nominated for an award.
Poor Ben.

simply not good enough the wayyou presented the coverage on the tv today was very insulting. you made it sound better than it is . disgraceful!!!!!

i am aware of the comment about you couldnt choose the 10 races you would like, but surely there was a better option then Europe and Abu Dhabi?

Hi Ben,

I'm writing this whilst we wait for major and widespread technical problems on the F1 programme to be resolved.

I don't believe the BBC has answered questions as to why it went running to Sky when Channel 4 (albeit a rival terrestrial broadcaster) made a bid for the rights?

Your response is eagerly awaited.

You aren't covering either the Canada or US race (if the later goes ahead) live, but your highlights only talk about the Far Eastern and European races.

What are your plans for highlights from those two races?

It was the end of an era today! F1 has gone the way of Cricket and Premier Football, taking it out of the hands of normal people, who will have to make do with the crumbs. I cannot afford SKY let alone HD so thats it for me and many like me.

The proposals are Rubbish, do not want to wait until the afternoon of the race to get to watch it when you will have plasted the results on the BBC website !!
This is shocking BBC utter crp... I don't give a brass monkeys about the olympics ! so please dont try and use that to justtify your junk proposals.... no wonder Brundle is off....

Please can you enlighten us on your plans for the American races, what time are hoping to show highlights?

Also any possibility of a late night full rerun?

Even though I'll be watching the non live races on SKY I'd implore the BBC to cut the chat on the highlights shows.

It's simple maximise on-track action (any contractual requirements permitting) and put the chat on the website if necessary.

@John #3 It seems to be that the BBC had the top 3 picks then SKY had the next 3 the remaining ones alternated but no-one could pick 3 consecutive races.

https://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tomcary/100021994/bbc-race-picks-disappoint-fans-but-aunties-hands-were-tied/

You've been mugged by Sky and ended up with all the street races which nobody likes. I mean, honestly, Valencia? The worst one there is. Singapore = Boring, Korea won't last much longer on the calendar. Spa is the only good thing the BBC have got going for it. Not that I'll be watching next season, I have better ways to spend my weekends.

No matter how you try to present it, the Great British public know that this is simply not acceptable. The BBC, and especially BBC Sports management, should be thoroughly ashamed of how this situation has been handled.

What you haven't clarified at all is how these 'highlights' programs will be structured. How much of the 2hrs or 90 mins will be given over to waffle and over produced video segments? How much will be actual racing action? We want to see the racing, not the pundits. If the races are reduced to a bare 1hr (or close too) then you can be sure that your audience figures will drop through the floor and that you will have, at a single stroke, relegated F1 to a stagnant backwater of sports broadcasting.

Your lack of conscience may allow you all to sleep at night, but you don't deserve to.

I'll be watching more BTCC next year.

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How much money is this going to save the BBC? Surely by sending an entire crew out to every race, to broadcast to the same quality but saving half an hour of air time, you may as well have bought the rights completely?

Why is the BBC not showing full re runs of all races when it has access to all coverage? Earlier in the season, Martin Whitmarsh said "Bernie assured me, and I asked him several times, the deferred coverage will not be highlights, it will be a full race" yet it seem we have been lied to again.
Even if it is only on red button or online surely you can understand that watching highlights is not good enough for dedicated F1 fans who are willing to compromise.
PLEASE ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN THIS BLOG AND DONT IGNORE THEM LIKE YOU HAVE DONE PREVIOUSLY

I still do not fully understand if for the 2 hour 'highlights' this is a full re run (in which case I will be happy!) or if it is just a 'longer highlights' than the European races - will the 2 hours show the FULL race - or will it be say 90 minutes of 'race highlights' and 30 minutes of 'chat'?

I am still appalled at the decision to reduce the F1 coverage. What I'm even more appalled at is the way you BBC execs have hidden away and not faced the fans to face the criticism. You (being the people at the BBC who made these decisions) haven't responded to any of our comments and criticisms and when we complain all we get are pre written scripted responses. I thought the BBC was supposed to be open and transparent, obviously not. To sum it up Ben not good enough

As disappointed as I was initially when the news was announced over the summer, I didn't consider the possibility that the F1 team would be split with some of the best on air talent going over to Sky. Not only are you going to tell just half the story of the year, but the quality of the presentation is not going to be as strong as it currently is.

The decision to disappoint the millions of licence-fee payers who watch F1 is disgraceful. Shame on the BBC for selling out and failing to provide top quality broadcasting.

I still fail to understand how a viewer driven business gives away rights when the viewer willl miss out on what they want to view. Superb coverage and congratulations to everyone involved. BBC hang your head in shame.

Valencia would be the won to be avoided at all costs - won't this clash with the Euros and Wimbledon coverage (I know they don't play on Sunday but qualifying etc) Plus its just a boring race. I want to know what happens with highlights for Canada and the US (if it happens). There's been no mention of this. Do we get highlights the same day? If we do, what happens if theres another repeat of Canada with a long rain delay? If highlights were planned at 9pm, the race was still going on then.

So from your post I would presume that Ted Kravitz and Eddie Jordan are leaving? Can't believe that Sky would want EJ though so I'll just guess that you're waiting to sort out the contract? My problem would be that your whole on-air team seem to be trying to make this deal sound good. Its not. All F1 fans feel let down by this, and as other posters have said, you have not explained the reasons why Channel 4 couldn't get the rights. That would have been worse for the BBC, but likely better for the fans. I have absolutely loved the BBC coverage and would have loved it to stay how it was for years to come. I also understand that you can blame the Tories for messing with the BBC, who have wanted to do that for years. However, the BBC should have looked at was right for the fans, and not just for themselves. All true F1 fans feel that this is the end of an era - next stop will be Sky for all races, and then it'll be like the Premier League - you never see a game. We'll never see the races and the sport will die in the UK.

3 generations of my family have been fans of F1, and after over 15 years of loyal support from me, through the bad and good times, even when I could hardly stay awake, I am very sad to say farewell to a great sport. It is disheartening the way the fans have been treated by all involved in this short sighted and somewhat selfish deal, fans that are forced to pay for a licence without any say in how it is used. To say it is best for F1 is ridiculous as sky could never hope to get anywhere near the viewers that the bbc does. As for us fans we are getting shafted. Highlights for half of the races is not satisfactory, especially in a sport when the world champion could be decided at any race in the tail end of the season, and what would happen if another Canada occurred? How would that be squashed into a highlights show. To expect fans to be happy with the scraps sky sees fit to throw our way is an insult. I wish everyone involved in F1 all the luck for the future (your going to need it) and hope the drop in ratings does not affect you too badly. Good luck to Jenson, Lewis and Paul as it is your fan base that will take the biggest beating.
It's been fun. Goodbye.

"I won't dwell on the reasons for the BBC doing the deal we have on the rights - that was debated and discussed when the news was announced back in the summer "

No it was'nt. You did your little deal and then announced it. The rest of us have had to lump it. There was no debate or discussion from your side at any point since you announced it.

Please resign.

"One of our key criteria was to try to avoid too many major clashes with other big sporting events we are covering, particularly the London Olympics next summer."

Why am I not surprised? Once again, nothing must stand in the way of the mighty Olympics!

"I won't dwell on the reasons for the BBC doing the deal we have on the rights - that was debated and discussed when the news was announced back in the summer"

Trotting out "good deal for licence payers" and "cuts across the BBC" is not debate, nor is it discussion.

"We've had to face some tough choices and we recognise that some people have strong views about the F1 deal."

But you didn't bother to find that out beforehand, far too interested in the good name of BBC Sport over what might have been best for the ordinary viewer.

"But now things have begun to settle down"

Ignoring the continuing complaints does not means things are settling down.

Well, I guess this is where F1 and I part company thanks to the new deal. I'm not sure I can be bothered to follow it when only half the races will be shown on a non-subscription channel, especially as some of those ten seem to involve processional displays (e.g., European GP). Bah, humbug!!!! It's been a fun 16 years or so.

"I won't dwell on the reasons for the BBC doing the deal we have on the rights - that was debated and discussed when the news was announced back in the summer - other than to reiterate the point that the BBC as a whole is facing considerable cut-backs."

DEBATED AND DISCUSSED?!

We never got the answers we deserved as fans for why you went to SKY and did the deal the way it was done. Still utterly disgusted and won't be watching again...

Not that the BBC cares - I doubt this is even read...

What I still don't get is how you can say that you are saving money with cut back and so on and yet "STILL" spend the (give or take) same amount of money sending the BBcF1 team out to "ALL" the races to do the filming and recording of the shows and and so on. How can you be saving money if you are doing the exact same as you are doing right now? You can't. What this says to me is a simple case of selling the TV rights on to pay for something else. Such a shame. The fans have really lost out here. The job that the BBC F1 team have done with F1 the past 3 years is just been out bloody standing. I Really feel let down by the BBC management about this. What is even worst is the fact that the BBC will not listen to the fans. We don't want to watch it on Sky. We want all races on the BBC because the BBC has the right talent on and off the screen to do the best job. The show has won awards. Fans have screamed till they are blue in the face. WE don't want to watch it on Sky. We want you, the BBC to do it. I Could go on about how good the show is. How the on screen team have such good rapport with the teams in the padlock. And so so much more.

At the end of the day. The fans here in the UK have lost out big time. And this will be the end of F1 on the BBC. As time goes by, you will lose all your adunce to sky because if you have to pay to watch it all on Sky. You might as well watch it all on Sky. Not point paying to only watch half a years worth.

BEN, WHERE ARE THE FULL RE RUNS WE WERE PROMISED FOR THE 10 RACES YOU ARE NOT SHOWING LIVE. SURELY THEY CAN BE SHOWN EVEN IF ONLY ON 301/RED BUTTON.
HIGHLIGHTS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH, RE RUNS IS AT LEAST AN ACCEPTABLE COMPROMISE

Seem we now have tennis,what sad way for the bbc to lose the F1 coverage we have enjoyed.
ben and babs should be sacked for the insulting way we have been treated,you guttles people still not able to be honest on the sell out to sly.
SHAMEFUL

"I won't dwell on the reasons for the BBC doing the deal we have on the rights - that was debated and discussed when the news was announced back in the summer - other than to reiterate the point that the BBC as a whole is facing considerable cut-backs."

Could you please inform me as to when this debate took place? as I don't believe there has been any feedback from the BBC when people have raised questions. Also, why is everyone going out to the races even when you are only showing highlights. My final question, an this is the one I want answering the most. Why are the BBC sticking with the extended highlights option, when the agreement says you can do full race re-runs albeit delayed?

Seems rather fitting that the F1 forum faded away to nothing. Will it be available in its entirety from iPlayer or will it chop off as we finally got to hear from a British driver?

The calendar for "live" races next year is a joke, a real kick in the teeth for true fans of F1. Enjoy your new expensive building bbc, and the reality trash tv you continue to buy in and produce. The TV tax is not long for this world, then we will see just how long you last against your $ky friends.

Rest in peace F1, murdered by the bbc.

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The dissapointment about Sky / BBC has been covered in depth before.
We now know who is offering what and when and no doubt there was no free choice of races for BBC.
However my gripe is about the BBC's coverage of non-live races -- everywhere you use the word 'highlights' and have two different lengths of programme 90mins and 120 mins.
Assuming that a few extra minutes coverage would not be a problem for BBC I have to assume you have a contractual clause that says they have to be this way -- if not then it is very bad for the fans who can't afford to pay to view.
Why not a delayed re-run of the race?
Very dissapointing!

It is extremely disappointing that there is no mention of the BBC showing delayed full races. I'm pretty sure that Bernie said that the BBC has the right to do this so it would be a real slap in the face if you decide not to. It surely wouldn't be beyond the BBC to find the time to show these on the red button. I would much rather watch the full race with poor picture quality than highlights in HD.

If it is not possible to watch all of the full races without giving money to Murdoch's Sky, my 20+ year love of F1 will have to come to a reluctant end.

BBC you are a joke. First you take away half of the coverage, then we are promised full re runs and now only highlights. This deal was bad enough in itself but to not even bother to show the races in full later in the day is truly disgraceful and disrespectful to F1 fans of this country. Hang your head in shame Ben, though no doubt we wont even get a response from you again. Pathetic.

So, the final act of the BBC before the hideous new deal comes into force is for the forum to dissolve into the ether half way through.

The presenting team having to sell this new deal as 'better' than alternatives at the end of the main show today was truly insulting to the fans, and probably embarrassing for them.

If you couldn't have afforded it, fine, but you should have dropped it or shared it with another Free to Air network, rather than a pay TV network which couldn't get into the sport another way because of the Concorde agreement that binds the sport together.

At the very least you should ensure somewhere on the BBC, available to all, there are FULL RERUNS of EVERY lap of EVERY race, even if it's a late night repeat that people could record or see on iPlayer. Extended highlights are meaningless, as those who truly follow the race like to follow the strategies as they unfold, anticipate, and read the race along with the commentators.

The BBC's remit is to act in the public interest. This deal is manifestly not in the interest of the public, as it makes less F1 available live to everyone in the country. Because the BBC had the rights, they had the power, and you chose to deal with Sky instead of ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5 - you therefore chose to go against the public service remit of the organisation - I'm normally a great fan of the BBC, but you've let us, and your organisation, down.

Ben, please can you explain this in detail and answer the following questions.

'A word on the race split. Just to be clear, it wasn't the case that the BBC was simply able to select its preferred 10 races to cover live - under the terms of our rights agreement, the allocation was decided through a negotiation with Sky, with each broadcaster able to prioritise specific choices within certain parameters.'

How EXACTLY did you select the races to cover? BBC chose one to cover, Sky chose one BBC not covering? Too what extent was Sky able to stop BBC covering specific races and how did this work? I don't understand. Prioritise specific choices - what choices and what are these parameters you mention?

Thanks.

I still fail to see why an award winning program which is bringing in record viewing figures gets the rough treatment and not some of the other shows on the BBC that have nowhere near the same ratings?

What an absolute disgrace with the amount of opposition you have, and the fact that its OUR money that pays your salary, that you couldn't even explain why you didn't share rights with C4, and haven't even properly explained how much of the race we will actually see on these 'highlights' shows.

Not good enough Ben. It would've been better for the BBC to pull out completely and let another free-to-air broadcaster have a shot. Instead you've given us the worst of all worlds. You've let a Pay TV operator get a foot in the door, a situation that would not otherwise been possible - and you've locked in the situation until 2018.

Don't patronise us by trying to sell this half baked mess. A pig with lipstick is still a pig.

....and as 'Head of Interactive' can I say there hasn't been much of that over the past 5 months. The 8000+ complaints seem to have been tossed in the bin.

With no Brundle, that's the final straw.....I won't be watching BBC or Sky F1 coverage......after 25 years of being a dedicated fan & going to the odd race, it's time to call it a day....

@Riggadon (22) Well said that man!!

You still haven't told us how this happened. Why wasn't a deal done with Channel 4? It's a simple enough question which still hasn't been answered, which people will keep on asking as they make do with second-rate coverage next year. If you can't tell us because of a non-disclosure agreement with Sky/FOM, can you at least tell us that?

It still isn't clear what 'extended highlights' means. Live pre-race, post-race but with any boring bits in the middle cut out? Will there be F1 forums at races which aren't live?

bernie said bbc could show whole races if they wanted 1st last british and monaco
you let martin go shoddy work you refused a reply to complaint email time to move dish to RTL

The best part about many races was the grid walk and the commentary from Martin Brundle. I don't have Sky, I am not going to get Sky, so today was my last F1 race.

It's all but impossible in today's world to not know the result and while it's sometimes good to see how the result was obtained, frankly I wouldn't watch any BBC coverage now purely because I feel insulted by the BBC by this monumentally stupid decision.

I'll simply spend the 5-6 hours every other weekend that the BBC have returned to me on something more productive and just look at the results in the evening.

Bye bye F1, I've watched you for over 20 years and your coverage has got better and better, but you are not worth me having to shell out £30 a month to watch.

3.4 million people watched the qualifying session yesterday and you've won yet another award for the Monaco coverage and your happy to sell out the sport and the fans to Sky, 10 live races and a extended highlight show isn't good enough for a sport with an increased following especially when your funding channels and shows hardly anyone watches.

Absolute disgrace, you should all be ashamed of yourselves

Having being very annoyed and frustrated at this decision, the only positive remaining for the BBC was to show full re runs/replays of all of the 10 races it is showing live and it appears it is not doing this. I presume the 90 minute highlights will include a 10 minute intro and about 20 minutes for interviews/analysis so only 1 hour of racing. Why not just do a 2 and a half hour showing for people who want to watch the whole race even if it is shown on BBC2 or the red button. I certainly will not be tuning in for highlights as only watching a full grand prix can paint a picture of the race, strategy, etc.
So Ben, why can't the BBC be bothered to show full re runs? SEE: https://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/sep/02/bbc-reruns-sky-formula-one

Can you actually respond to the concerns of the licence fee payers this time Ben, or will you hide away again?

Although reluctantly I accept the need for change the Forum exit debacle was the very worst way to bow out. It begs the question why, whatever the technical problem, you could not have a continuity announcer on standby to keep viewers better informed - a petty cost in the overall scheme of things! An apology graphic saying resuming ASAP morphing to a BBC logo is the poorest exit you could possibly have devised. and yes I agree with others that you have over hyped what you are trully offering next year. Disappointing in the extreme!

Mods will be working overtime tonight :D

This is a bad deal for viewers and all the spin will not alter the disappointment and outrage caused. If this is a money saving exercise (due to the FREEZE in funding) then why are you sending out the entire team for every race, despite serivng up highlights. I've got rid of Sky and won't be watching next years poor offering.

When will you come out of hiding! The choice you made is nothing short of a joke if I was as bad at my job as you are as yours I'd be sacked! It's is criminal that I have to pay the tv tax that pays you wages.
The reason you chose not to show the races is cutbacks, so how why send what's left of a good tram to all the races! Come out of hiding and answer some questions from a lot of very upset f1 fans!

We keep hearing how many millions watch the show so why get rid of it? Good luck getting 6 odd million views watching whatever rubbish your lot decide to put on!

Complete sell out!

For those asking, the savings in rights fee reduction is in the region of £25m per year.

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One of the races that the BBC will be showing live is the European Grand Prix in Valencia. Which has never been anything other than dull during it's entire existence.

I don't believe anyone in BBC Sport should resign, I think you should all be sacked.

Well good luck with the half of the F1 races

PS Don't you DARE say the lack of coverage is because the BBC are facing cutbacks. You've just spent £600m moving to Salford. Cutbacks my eye.

Thanks for stitching us all up Ben, thanks a million.

"The first thing to stress is that we will be at every race, bringing the season to life for BBC TV viewers."

So, let me get this straight: The BBC can't afford to show every race live (despite clearly having access to the footage, seeing as highlights will be shown), but it CAN afford to send a crew out to every race?

And we're STILL yet to hear why the deal was made with SKY (a premium-rate broadcaster) and not another terrestrial channel.

This whole thing makes less and less sense the more announcements are made!

i can tell by all the comments above me, people are still feeling very bitter on this subject.
as already said, this issue has not been debated or discussed. we were told what was happening and the F1 on-air team were not allowed to discuss it on the program.
it appears it had been promised there would be full re-runs after the live event, this i could find acceptable but it would appear thats not the case at all.
personally i find highlights a waste of time, its like reading half a book then skipping to the end, you dont get the full story and can often miss out key parts.
the way this has been handled is appalling and continues to disgust me.
i love this sport but to pay for a sky subscription to continue to watch it? i dont think so.

Thanks for everything. I will be watching Sky. Scrap the licence fee.

I am very disappointed about the reduction in BBC coverage for 2012 but will not launch a bitter tirade but instead say thanks for the great fun you have given us over last 3 seasons. I hope you keep EJ and Ted for 2012.

"I won't dwell on the reasons for the BBC doing the deal we have on the rights - that was debated and discussed when the news was announced back in the summer"

NO IT WASNT! You received 8500+ comments on your blog and thousands more via the BBC complaints website and you couldn't even be bothered to reply. YOU didn't debate anything, you simply hid away thinking people would forget. Well they haven't. Not only do you sell out to sky, but now you wont even be showing re runs, only highlights. You and the BBC are one big joke!

It's incredibly disappointing to find that the BBc have wasted the little money they seem to have on this half hearted attempt. As a sky subscriber I won't be watching bbc coverage any longer. I wish they had got rid of it all and used the money more wisely.

Mmmmmmmm not one positive comment about you selling out!

i as a person is having to face considerable cut-backs, and as F1 is the only thing i watch on the BBC then you will no longer be receiving my license fee.

Thanks for your understanding during these difficult times.

Ben, thanks for the link to the BBC's Delivering Quality first page. Here's another one :

https://bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/2011/03/delivering-quality-first---exp.shtml

Its the one where Caroline Thompson says no decisions on cutbacks will finalised before the BBC Trusts consultation. The consultation hasn't closed yet, so you could've fooled me!

Got to say, awful choice of races, look at this seasons highlights, Canada, Germany, Italy, all of these are going to be "90 minute highlight programs", which I assume means about half an hour of actual racing coverage?

How do the BBC expect anyone to watch races with them? Those that have Sky, will watch all the races on Sky, rather than half on the BBC, and most others won't want to watch half an F1 season.

It's a joke that the BBC sold out to Sky, I still hope that Fota can do something, but I can't see it happening.
As it stands, today was my last F1 race, as I cannot take an interest in half a season, and cannot afford Sky.

I'm as disappointed as the next F1 fan with this. I already have a basic Sky package so "luckily" will ONLY have to pay an extra £10.00 a month to get the Sky F1 channel.

What I find bizarre is that a format that is winning the awards for the BBC is getting amended, for what is surely the worse.

As bad as the decision is I am ever positive and would like to say the following:

All races live in HD
Martin Brundle
No ads during race
F1 & related programs 24/7

I'd rather not pay for it, but it's not too bad for an additional tenner. However for those not already on Sky, having to pay an extra £30 plus is a kick in the teeth.

I do agree with previous comments that the BBC editors (and even the commentary team since the announcement) have been very reluctant to respond to anything on their blogs.

I understand jobs are at stake, but for a service I pay over £140 a year for where my opinion isn't taken into consideration I would at least appreciate transparency.

Oh dear, how as the currents rights holder, could the BBC not have negotiated to show the more interesting races and not the boring, insipid dross that is China, Spain, Valencia(european), Korea & Abu Dhabi.. What about Italy, Canada & Australia, great races & cheaper to travel to im sure.. Also how can the BBC not show the opening race???

Sorry Jake, but guess I'll be watching the whole season listening to Martin Brundle on Sky.. Just hope they get a presenter of your caliber!

Ben, I would suggest that this is going down like a lead balloon?

Will the highlights program be available on I player? Oh what is the point in asking? It’s not like you would reply

I can't believe all the moaning. Either watch the BBC or get Sky. I am sure most people have both. BBC's coverage has been superb, but Sky's will also be excellent, as is all the other sport they cover.

BBC Cutbacks?? You managed to find millions to secure the 'crown jewel' Six Nations! 4.7 millions viewers per game, same as F1

I agree with Riggadon too - "I won't dwell on the reasons for the BBC doing the deal we have on the rights - that was debated and discussed when the news was announced back in the summer "

It was never debated or dicussed. No one at the BBC said a word. Why were C4 not included in the discussions to keep F1 FTA??

We pay your wages, surely we have a right to a say in what gets shown on the BBC.

I was watching the f1 forum and it just dissappeared,what happened?. I am another who disagrees with the bbc not showing all the races, we will know the results before we see the race,so whats the point of even showing it. It it so unfair to people who either dont want Sky tv, or just cant afford it.
I just think its unbelievable how they`ve figured this out, I mean do away with half of eastenders or other rubbish, that way we will see ALL the races instead of just the results.

@hdsport82 #9 i understand what your saying but Sky get ALL of the races. Why do they get to pick 3 races? BBC have been sold short, but hey, they get everything they deserve.

My TV licence will be cancelled as soon as the BBC fails to show an F1 race live.

There are alternatives to giving away the rights to a company that has systematically lobbied the government to cut BBC funding.

The BBC has a moral duty not to help subscription television services.

As others have said, other terrestrial channels should have had first option. I have suggested in the multitude of surveys that I have filled out for the BBC that if they made the iPlayer available as a subscription service to those living overseas then they would make enough money to afford sports like F1.

As with other sports, my interest dies as soon as it sells out to sky.

Saw the new studios in Manchester yesterday - no expense spared! Its just a question of priorities really. The BBC's days are surely numbered??

BBC's handling of this matter and the tie-in with the Sky is disgusting. You should have walked away rather than play Bernie's game, and the BBC's wasting of all that cash on the Salford Quays centre is the root of this. Be ashamed, be very ashamed of your conduct.

Another great show today apart from the fault with the forum transmission. There are a number of questions the BBC need to answer:-

Mr Gallop states that the issues were debated and discussed. When did this happen? They have not answered any questions the fans have asked, such as

- They had a contract in place to show F1 for 5 years (as fas as I know all races live), so why was this cut short by two years?

- Why were Channel 4 not given the rights?

- Why, when on average you are getting 6 - 8 million viewers a race, are you cutting back on this sport when most other programmes would love anywhere near this amount

- Why do you have to keep Wimbledon and the Olympics? I doubt the viewing figures would add up to what you would get on just two F1 races!

- Why spend millions on ANOTHER singing 'talent' show?

To top it all off it now looks likely that you will have seperated one of the best F1 presenting teams ever. Martin Brundle is leaving and I can't blame him. If he is going to Sky I will watch the races on that channel (luckily I already have Sky but I don't want F1 going there) as he is the best commentator. But David Coulthard will be staying on the BBC probably due to his contract. This is a great shame as they wrok well together, as does EJ. I knew Jake would stay with the BBC but this is also a shame as he is avery good anchor. So well done to the BBC you have also ruined our presenting team!

Im guessing there will be no highlights of qualifying just a quick summary in the highlights package on a Sunday by which time everyone will know anyway! Jake said today that there would be more time to discuss things in the highlights programme as it's later in the day - Well if it's only a 90 minute programme how long will the highlights be if there is going to be more chat?!!

I have never written a post this long on any forum but I felt I had to. Please evry other fan on here we need to keep asking the BBC to gives us answers. they are meant to be giving us what we want!

To all the moaners, Yep BBC lost coverage, lost Brundle, Lost this lost that...DEAL WITH IT, I'll still be watching on BBC more to life than just complaining about why C4 wasn't involved, How much is spent etc etc...Who cares !!!! if you love the sport you'll watch it the contract won't change

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Why do the only people that think that this is a good deal are those that work at the BBC?

What I'd really like answered is why the need to send the team to all races? Surely you're just replaying highlights given to you by the official F1 feed.

I think we all need to be a bit calm.....

SKY was always going to grab F1, I've been waiting for that for ages.
F1 isn't as popular as you think,
and eventually it's going to be sacrificed due to
a) budget cuts, like it or not,
b) Berine's greed for TV rights,
c) Domination of SKY.

Today was the end of a great era of BBC F1,
Let's see what the future brings. . . .

This is a very poor deal for BBC viewers. I see all messages are pre-moderated, that says it all.

Firstly, shame on the BBC for this fiasco - 3 years of what will be remembered as the Golden Age of F1 broadcasting ruined by selling out to Murdoch and co.

Secondly, please BBC do the sensible thing and use the commentary stream from Brundle at Sky, as you have the option to do as per the new contract. Once the visuals go over to the FOM broadcast, there is no need to have BBC and Sky producing two separate commentaries, of which Sky's (Brundle and Croft) will be far superior.

Besides, having fired Legard and lost both Brundle and Croft there aren't many options left (James Allen possibly, although there's plenty that don't like his style).

I absolutely refuse to pay Sky to see the whole season in 2012 and beyond. I'm going to enjoy spending the money it would cost to buy a Sky subscription on going to a few more BTCC races as at least that is fan friendly and any races I can't go to will be on FTA television. I hope the BBC realises there are alternatives to F1.

I can't believe the BBC collaborated with Sky simply to stop another FTA channel getting the Formula 1 rights. It's a shame I can't stop paying the licence fee.

I have just watched the Brazilian Grand Prix and i was so dissapointed with the commentary. Why? Because you clearly had what was a team instruction to let Mark Webber win and it just didnt feel like i was watching a sporting event. The BBC pundits did not even attempt to critically examine what this meant for the sport and the fans - Instead it was dismissed as a conspiracy.

If I was Mark i would be ashamed of that 'win'

Considering the clear bias reporting regarding L Hamilton, the closeness of the BBC to some drivers/teams, I am excited to see what SKY will bring to the table.

Mr Gallop you never debated or discussed the issue in July and according to the last BBC Trust communication to me final findings still have to be announced.
Your behaviour has been atrocious, nothing from you from July until now and you still cannot give us full details of the new coverage. If I managed like that I would have been let go a long time ago.
The red button service failed today due to technical problems so we lost the last 30 mins or so of that - not a great advert for the future.
Mark Thompson is waffling on BBC Parliament discussing BBC efficiency programme and not doing very well.

I'm utterly appalled at the handling of this. BBC F1 has been an incredible, award-winning show with record viewing figures and yet the BBC has absolutely screwed the sport's fans over. What will we get instead? Tennis and athletics events that absolutely no-one cares about? Or perhaps the money is being spent on the return of the Boat Race? Brilliant.

Like many people before me have said, if you can afford to send out the F1 staff to every race and can also afford to fork out for no doubt at least a 6 figure sum for David Coulthard's continued services, why couldn't you have just kept full coverage? It just doesn't make any sense to me, at all.

If BBC Sport needs to save money, there's plenty of other areas that it could be saved in, for example the insistence on having a commentary team of at least 3 people on 5Live's live football coverage, along with at least a handful of other BBC journalists there at the same time who report for other BBC Outlets (local media, BBC News, BBC Sports website). No doubt all getting paid a small fortune too.

I've just signed the Government e-petition to keep F1 on free-to-air TV. As a licence fee payer, I have every right to determine where my BBC should spend it's money!!

I was stoked when the news broke that the BBc was taking the rights from ITV and looked forwrd to F1 on tv that would be good to watch for many years.....3 years down the line and its all fell apart. With Brundle leaving for Sky it begs the question who will replace him? I really really hope your not going to drop another bombshell and announce Jonothan Legard returning at lead commentator because really, i dont think i could survive with having to listen to him get it wrong on pointless 90 minute highlight shows.
Ive always enjoyed BBc programming and though the BBC woudl always do what was best for its viewers, but it seems that the views 6 million average viewers means very little. In sted we get to watch Wimbledon where its walys won by a non british competitor, rugby where the same occurs and other sports; while a sport where Britain is leading the way from teams to drivers gets shunted. The BBc has taken a massive down turn in my opinion and really i will definatly think twice before watching something for fear it might be cut just as it gets good....

So what happened to the Concord agreement by where it was stated that all F1 events should be free to air? I know it was due to expire in 2013, I think, but this seems to have been conveniently overlooked in an appalling sell out by the BBC!

Mr. Gallop..... you should fall on your sword for absolute betrayal of all your previously supportive and dedicated F1 fans. We simply DO NOT have the financial resources to be able to enjoy live action in the future.

A sad day indeed and, I dare say, it will come back to bite you!

Jeremy Clarkson: "Valencia was, let's be honest, a little bit boring. I'm afraid I was fast asleep."

Never again will terrestrial television show f1 races and this is all down you bbc you have let us all down. Shame David isn't leaving for sky. I really feel for jake and the crew. Jake has the Olympics so presumably that takes precedence.

I'm disappointed that the bbc continue to show twaddle sports f1 smashes the viewing figures of, badminton horse trials for example, moto gp great north run London marathon Wimbledon a championship with no British winner for how many years. Yet two Englishmen and 1 scot. Two of which have a chance of winning something get kicked off.

The bbc didn't give the fans a say made the deal quickly so they could get rid of it. Six music had months.

The fact remains that BBC Sport has acted like a Trojan Horse and delivered the exclusive, live coverage of F1 in the UK to Murdoch's Sky organization.

You can promise so much: Make a moody "set to music piece" for every race - show a dozen "look at EJ & the guys having fun" videos - and interview a million hangers on in the paddock - but the fact remains....

...In terms of live coverage of actual F1 racing laps we are back to the coverage the BBC provided when I started following F1 in the early 80's.

Its an absolute disgrace the the mighty BBC should feel proud to nibble on the crumbs that fall from Murdoch's table when they served him the meal!

80+ comments and counting, and not ONE has anything positive to say about the Sky/BBC deal. I wonder what Bernie would think if he saw this.

More importantly, I wonder what the sponsors would say to Bernie if they saw this, and whether or not he'd spout more lies in an attempt to placate them...

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

End of the day the people of this country pay for the license fee that keeps the BBC running. As such don't we deserve something more than platitudes. The fans simply want to know if we get full re-runs or a version of the awful highlights you currently put out. Its not a lot to expect full race re-runs no cutting of the laps, yes you may have to sacrifice your VTs but as a fan i would not care one bit, the race is the important bit everything else fans can find online. For once it would be nice if the BBC consulted the fans and listened to what they want from the coverage.

The BBC has provided unsurpassed F1 coverage this year with the team of six (JH, MB, DC, EJ, TK and LM) and the production team providing outstanding live coverage and unrivalled access to the Grand Prix world.

What a great disappointment the star has shone so brightly for such a short time.

here are the problems beeb!

the rich will purchase or already have sky (meaning they will not bother watching the beeb.

the people who can not afford sky TV will simpily not watch f1 on the beeb.

TOTAL VIEWERS: 2 (Murdoch, eclestone)

56: "So, let me get this straight: The BBC can't afford to show every race live (despite clearly having access to the footage, seeing as highlights will be shown), but it CAN afford to send a crew out to every race?

And we're STILL yet to hear why the deal was made with SKY (a premium-rate broadcaster) and not another terrestrial channel.

This whole thing makes less and less sense the more announcements are made!"

My sentiments exactly!

"The first thing to stress is that we will be at every race, bringing the season to life for BBC TV viewers."

Not much of a cost saving, then, still sending the team to every race.

"The plan is that races in the Far East time zone, which take place early in the morning in the UK, will be run as a two-hour show at 2pm. And for highlights of European GPs we're looking to run 90-minute programmes, going out at 5.30pm."

What about the North American races?

"One of our key criteria was to try to avoid too many major clashes with other big sporting events we are covering, particularly the London Olympics next summer."

Does this mean that we will get a better selection of races in 2013?

"I won't dwell on the reasons for the BBC doing the deal we have on the rights - that was debated and discussed when the news was announced back in the summer - other than to reiterate the point that the BBC as a whole is facing considerable cut-backs."

There was no debate or discussion - we were told of the deal, then all involved disappeared for a month and ignored all the comments and questions. Despite the BBC cut-backs, money was found to renew the deals on Wimbledon and 6 Nations Rugby - are these higher priority sports, even though they get lower viewing figures?

"But now things have begun to settle down, we are looking forward to next season and the creative challenge of telling the story of the 2012 F1 season in a new way for BBC TV audiences."

Can we look forward to edited highlights of every other episode of Eastenders, too?

Shame that a BAFTA award winning programme can have its heart ripped out so easily by those who are supposed to be working for the benefit of BBC viewers and sports fans.

I am not going out of my way to watch half a season, "extended highlights" for the other 10 races isn't good enough. I'm taking a principled stand and wether or not it makes a jot of difference or suceeds doesn't matter to me, I know that I myself am not helping to line Murdoch's pockets, and that man's company are not using my money to reward Bernie for this farcical and fan-unfriendly deal.

Perhaps if others follow my example, perhaps it might dent the ratings for both Sky and the BBC, hit bernie in the pocket and force a change that re-inforces the message that F1 should remain on a free to air channel in the UK.

My message to those who do have sky and are prepared to watch with Sky, just think about what you are doing; you are directly contributing to a company who is owned by Ruphert Murdoch, a man at the top of news International, owners of the Sun, the Times and the Sunday Times. More importantly however is that they also owned the News of the World, a paper whose editors and journalists are accused of, bribery, blackmail, invasion of privacy, phone hacking (of innocent victims of crime) and computer hacking. Please, just for one minute - or even better, during the winter break of the off season, please just consider what I have just posted.