Photo: Mark Thompson
The BBC, one of the best-known broadcasters in the world, is going through some tough times. As part of a savings plan across the corporation, the public service broadcaster of the United Kingdom has ended its television contract with the Formula 1, three years earlier than originally specified.
Although this unexpected move comes right after the Briton Lewis Hamilton won his third world championship title, Barbara Slater, the BBC’s director of sport, revealed that, because of the company's recent financial situation, some unwanted choices must be made.
BBC Sport has been asked to deliver no less than $52,140,725 (35 million pounds) of savings as part of a $223,460,250 (150 million pounds) gap in the corporation’s finances. As Slater stated, “a significant chunk of BBC’s Sports savings target will be delivered through the immediate termination of our TV rights agreement for Formula 1.”
While BBC Sport ended the contract, BBC Radio 5 has extended its commentary rights for F1 until the 2021 season.
The British broadcaster regained the Formula 1 rights from iTV in 2009, but because of the financial problems, it has been sharing them with Sky Sports since the 2012 season, BBC reports.
This is probably the British broadcaster’s second breakdown of the year, after losing Jeremy Clarkson and Co. because of the scandal between the Top Gear presenter and a producer. It seems that this wasn’t the only thing BBC lost back then. After the three presenters had left for Amazon, the British corporation had to fire 1,000 people and lost around 4 million viewers.
The TV rights for the Formula 1 will be now owned by Channel 4, which recently announced a three-year deal. The agreement consists of broadcasting 10 live races, including practice and qualifying sessions, as well as comprehensive highlights of all 21 Grands Prix and qualifying sessions.
After BBC ended the contract, Formula 1’s CEO Bernie Ecclestone declared that he was sorry for this unexpected move, but also happy because Channel 4 will broadcast F1 events without any commercial during the race.
BBC Sport has been asked to deliver no less than $52,140,725 (35 million pounds) of savings as part of a $223,460,250 (150 million pounds) gap in the corporation’s finances. As Slater stated, “a significant chunk of BBC’s Sports savings target will be delivered through the immediate termination of our TV rights agreement for Formula 1.”
While BBC Sport ended the contract, BBC Radio 5 has extended its commentary rights for F1 until the 2021 season.
The British broadcaster regained the Formula 1 rights from iTV in 2009, but because of the financial problems, it has been sharing them with Sky Sports since the 2012 season, BBC reports.
This is probably the British broadcaster’s second breakdown of the year, after losing Jeremy Clarkson and Co. because of the scandal between the Top Gear presenter and a producer. It seems that this wasn’t the only thing BBC lost back then. After the three presenters had left for Amazon, the British corporation had to fire 1,000 people and lost around 4 million viewers.
The TV rights for the Formula 1 will be now owned by Channel 4, which recently announced a three-year deal. The agreement consists of broadcasting 10 live races, including practice and qualifying sessions, as well as comprehensive highlights of all 21 Grands Prix and qualifying sessions.
After BBC ended the contract, Formula 1’s CEO Bernie Ecclestone declared that he was sorry for this unexpected move, but also happy because Channel 4 will broadcast F1 events without any commercial during the race.
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