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BBC F1 win good news for all but advertisers

Posted in Media, Latest reporters' blogs, Russell Parsons March 25th, 2008 by Russell Parsons

As a committed non-fan of Formula One the news that the BBC has secured the rights to screen races from 2009 leaves me cold. However, as my opinion flies somewhat in the face of the legions of committed F1 fans that follow the so-called sport regardless of the anti-social hours an overseas race demands, I am probably in the minority.

It is good news for the fans that races will broadcast on a free-to-air channel, although I am not sure how comfortably the ad-free BBC should feel about the number of brand sponsorships which cover the drivers, cars and tracks, but not great news for the television advertisers who will now be denied valuable time with the often affluent consumers which tend to watch F1.

It is also good news for the Beeb. The public service broadcaster has lost the rights to screen live FA Cup games to ITV and countless other live sporting events have fallen out of its grasp over the years as commercial forces take hold, so this is a win for the BBC.

You can generally always rely on Auntie to offer balanced, insightful live coverage of sporting events which makes the fact it has lost so many opportunities to do just this over the years such a shame.

As much as I will not be watching I am buoyed by the possibility of hearing the baseline to Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” on national television again.

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