Ecclestone hopes to keep F1 on BBC

June 20, 2011   ·   0 Comments

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone and McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh have urged the BBC to continue broadcasting the sport, following reports that the corporation will drop its coverage from 2013.

The Sunday Times reported that the BBC do not intend to renew their contract to broadcast the sport after 2013 due to the requirement to slash it’s budget by 20% following the licence fee freeze. 

Ecclestone told The Times that he wants to keep the sport on free-to-air television. “We want Formula One to stay free to viewers. That is 100%. The BBC have done a great job for us and we like their shows and the people obviously like it because so many are watching,” he said.

“They did warn me that they were facing problems but, so far, nothing more has been said. I hope they want to keep us because it is such a success and I will do my best to keep Formula One on the BBC.”

Meanwhile McClaren boss Martin Whitmarsh has added his voice to the debate calling the viewing figures raised in the Sunday Times article into question.  Whitmarsh told The Daily Telegraph : “Formula One insiders have been surprised by the recent newspaper reports, since they contain significant statistical inaccuracies. The reality is that the Formula 1 viewing figures in the UK are high and getting higher”

“In terms of average viewership, peak viewership and average share of viewership – the three key indices for TV executives – more people are watching Formula 1 this year than last year or indeed than in recent previous years.”

“It’s crucial to the commercial model of Formula One that TV coverage should remain free-to-air, and therefore universally accessible, and therefore widely consumed and enjoyed by large numbers of viewers – and the BBC delivers that in the UK.

Whitmarsh added : “Moreover, besides the quantity of viewership, the quality of the BBC’s coverage is consistently high too – which is just as important. Also important is the demographic data – which shows that F1 is now attracting an increasing number of younger and female viewers, which is also very positive.

“Formula One is the pinnacle of world motorsport – always has been, always will be.  As such, it’s appropriate that the BBC should continue to cover it.

“I think it would be very sad, and most unwise, if the BBC were to disappoint so many millions of British sports fans by axeing it, and that’s why I don’t believe for a moment that they’d seriously consider doing such a thing.”

Tags: BBC, Bernie Ecclestone, F1, Formula One, Martin Whitmarsh