BBC gets first pick of Formula 1 races to be broadcasted in UK for 2012 season – Formula 1 news
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will get the right to choose the first three races that will be broadcasted in the United Kingdom from its platform for the 2012 Formula 1 season, it has been reported.
BBC will be airing half of the races of the 2012 season live and will choose any of the three races that they wish to broadcast from their end along with the qualifying sessions. Sky Sports will then choose the next three races.
BSkyB Chief Operating Officer Mike Darcey is reported to have said in an interview at the Royal Television Society conference, “I’m not sure that the BBC fades away, I think they know as they try to please everyone, sport is part of that. They’re going to
continue to be there.”
There has been a long debate going on since a long time over the broadcasting rights of Formula 1. Channels such as ITv and Channel 4 have also shown their interest in broadcasting the Formula 1 season live. However, BBC gave up its exclusive rights in favour
of Sky Sports and hence the latter will be airing all the F1 races live from March 2012.
Earlier in September 2011, BBC had announced that they will be airing only ten of the twenty races live from 2012. The rest of grands prix will be broadcasted using delay mechanism.
Commenting on BBC’s coverage of the highlights, Tom Cary, The Telegraph’s F1 correspondent said, “I'm told this would depend on the timing of each individual grand prix due to a “hold back” clause in the deal with Sky which means the BBC cannot broadcast
any footage until a certain amount of time has elapsed after the race. For some races (Oz, Malaysia, China etc) that time would elapse around lunchtime in the UK when TV schedules might be able to accommodate a full re-run.”
The race schedule for 2012 has almost been finalised by the Formula 1 authorities and the England-based channel will start with its broadcasting of the sport from March 2012.
Tags: