Curses on the BBC

[Ian]

Who will bet against F1 going onto Sky, that will be the end of it for me.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/3646980/The-BBC-plans-to-dump-Formula-1-motor-racing-to-save-BBC4-channel.html

[Wizzo]

The annoying thing here is that the viewing figures are just what the BBC and advertisers want. The only thing that makes it a nonviable option is the amount of money that Bernie wants to show it.  

[Wats-on]

O crap. I love to watch F1 on the BBC. I just got digital TV with BBC - that was a must - and now they are gonna drop it? Shall have to switch over to RTL, then... Pity, I love the comments of that quintet.

[Scott]

I'm thinking it's a slow news day for the Sun.  I can't find much else about anywhere else but forums talking about it. 

[Ian]

In the Guardian too Scott.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/11/wimbledon-formula-one-bbc-cuts

[cosworth151]

This story has been making the rounds for a couple of months. I wonder if all of the rumors of the BBC dumping popular events like F1 and Wimbledon is just a scare tactic to push for a budget increase.

[Ian]

The Government has frozen the cost of a tv licence Cos.

[Jericoke]

Does the BBC have a 'mandate'?

The Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) is kinda like the BBC, but they do have commercials.  It is mandated to show 'Canadian' TV for a certain percentage of their programming.

Does the BBC get caught up in red tape trying to show races not in Britain?

[Ian]

No Jeri. The BBC does not have adverts, but, sometimes you see a certain brand of something in the foreground, something to think about.

[Jericoke]

No Jeri. The BBC does not have adverts, but, sometimes you see a certain brand of something in the foreground, something to think about.

I was just wondering if the BBC was required to show British programming, and if F1 falls into that category.

[Ian]

BBC bought the rights until 2013 Jeri.

[Andy B]

They are stating the audience size in the UK but I watch BBC covarage in New Zealand which is obviously paid for so who else gets the BBC coverage in their country?

In fact lets start a list!!

• UK
• New Zealand

[aazz]

Add Australia to the list.

We get the qualifying, race, podium and after race press conference live from the BBC.

[Andy B]

They are stating the audience size in the UK but I watch BBC covarage in New Zealand which is obviously paid for so who else gets the BBC coverage in their country?

In fact lets start a list!!

• UK
• New Zealand
• Australia

[Jericoke]

Add Australia to the list.

We get the qualifying, race, podium and after race press conference live from the BBC.

Same thing in Canada.  No practise (not even the Canadian GP practise!)

We get commercial breaks too.  We'll lose Brundle mid sentence, and then pick up 2 minutes later, and have no idea what we've missed.  (Unless we ask in chat...)