I have to get up at 3-4 a.m. almost the whole season (same for everyone along the west coast of the U.S.), for practice, qualifying, and the race. So I dont know why Bernie is so 'concerned' about the European viewers having to get up early like only twice. Thats b.s. if you ask me, the heat is supposed to be part of the challenge in Australia.
its because the biggest audience for f1 is europe. it boils down to getting the most money in.
what i don't get is, if the oz gp is on at 3am you get the die hard f1 fans getting up to watch it so they get there "eyes on adverts" then its repated again in the afternoon so you get the casual f1 fan watching it and most of the die hard fans will re-watch it to go over any incidents, relive a overtake or whatever, so you get more "eye's on adverts"
Surely thats more money for FOM, than just the afternoon race then the highlights at 11pm.
it don't matter too much now with the Uk since the beeb

has got it but for the rest of europe i imagine they operated the same as ITV did.