Pipped to the post. Shunted into second place.
Not just the tale of the tape for Nico Rosberg in 2015 it seems, but now news every armchair fan will want to know going into next year - the BBC has ‘reluctantly’ just given up its rights to F1 coverage, allowing its old rival Channel 4 to enter the fray.
That's right, more known for its horse racing than motor racing, Channel 4 has struck a deal to air 10 live races (along with highlights of all 21 campaigns) and even pledged not to show ads during the races - a caveat reportedly crucial to the new sponsored_longform according to F1 chief exec Bernie Ecclestone:
"I am sorry that the BBC could not comply with their contract, but I am happy that we now have a broadcaster that can broadcast Formula One events without commercial intervals during the race. I am confident that Channel 4 will achieve not only how the BBC carried out the broadcast in the past, but also with a new approach as the world and Formula One have moved on.”
While clearly huge news for Channel 4, it marks another swing of the cost-cutting axe at the Beeb, which recently announced it would be cutting coverage of The Open, the darts and exclusive rights for the future Olympics as part of cuts helping to make up £750m worth of licence fee costs for the over-75s.
Will Suzi Perry, David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan be making the move across the airwaves with the coverage, or will Chris Evans present that as well?
[Via: The Guardian]
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