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[darren]

Bernie has sold out the british public !!!!!!! shame on you Bernie the sky deal is the lowest of the low and just goes to show what you realy think of the fans, just a way to put more money in your pocket !

[racechick]

Bernie has sold out the british public !!!!!!! shame on you Bernie the sky deal is the lowest of the low and just goes to show what you realy think of the fans, just a way to put more money in your pocket !

And its the thin end of the wedge. next stop, all races on sky-probably renegotiated next year. And then Sky take over F1-Bernies already working on that one. A sad day.

[andrew]

I have just read in two papers that

a) Channel 4 offered the same mony but Bernie chose Sky
b) BBC executives took Sky reps to a meeting with Bernie.

So it would seem that another free to air broadcaster offered to take on F1 but were rebuffed.

This to me confirms what I have been thinking all along - it is the BBC that have shot the fox here, not MrE.

The choices seem to be a joint venture betwen the BBC and Sky which will be very lucrative with a gauranteed year on year income versus Channel 4 who have not shown any motorsport ever and F1 riddled with adverts along with variable revenue due to Channel 4 being commercially funded. The choice is a no-brainer - BBC & Sky joint venture. The choice sucks, but it is the only one that makes sound business sence.

Bernie has sold out the british public !!!!!!!

No he didn't! The BBC have. It was them that introduced Sky to MrE and it was them who were oushing for shared coverage. The blame lies soley with the BBC and no one else.

[tco]

I thought it was obvious from the start that it was Barbara Slater of the BBC who tore up the existing agreement to carry F1 GP through to the end of the 2013 season.

I fear that this deal may not last the full period and the BBC will again throw in the towel before time.

BTW I have always thought since Clarkson and his ilk have taken over Top Gear, it was a children's programme. I understand that at the end of last week's show they even apologised because there was too much about cars in the show.

[Ri21]

Its probably up here somewhere but i signed this http://www.thef1times.com/community/display/00277" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Please do so if you havent already (although it wont make a difference)

[tco]

On Ben Gallop's blog ( he is head of BBC's F1 coverage under Barbara Slater) In the 4,500 odd replies on this matter, I have found ONE in support:

Roonalderson wrote:

Best decision ever, Sky's coverage at every single sporting event is so much better than the bbc giving further insight, coverage and just an over all more enjoyable experience so i say thank you and cant wait for next year

Two things about that,

The BBC's current coverage has been almost fautless, I wonder what channe; he has been watching?

I wonder if he works for SKY?

[acosmichippo]

BTW I have always thought since Clarkson and his ilk have taken over Top Gear, it was a children's programme. I understand that at the end of last week's show they even apologised because there was too much about cars in the show.

They tend to be a bit sarcastic on Top Gear.

[Ri21]

On Ben Gallop's blog ( he is head of BBC's F1 coverage under Barbara Slater) In the 4,500 odd replies on this matter, I have found ONE in support:

Roonalderson wrote:

Best decision ever, Sky's coverage at every single sporting event is so much better than the bbc giving further insight, coverage and just an over all more enjoyable experience so i say thank you and cant wait for next year

Two things about that,

The BBC's current coverage has been almost fautless, I wonder what channe; he has been watching?

I wonder if he works for SKY?

My comment is number 4585....i have never seen so many comments that are against the decision that has been made...to me its seems most are united on the fact that this is a huge mistake

[F1IsInMyBlood]

I know one thing, Ben Gallop used to work for SKY before the BBC.

[Ri21]

I know one thing, Ben Gallop used to work for SKY before the BBC.

Well doesnt that say it all

[F1IsInMyBlood]

In fact here is his Biography:

Ben Gallop is Head of Formula 1 at the BBC, taking on the role at the beginning of the 2009 season, the sport's first back on the BBC in 12 years.

In addition he heads up the department which looks after BBC Sport's new media services. He has responsibility for bbc.co.uk/sport – which is the largest sports website in the UK, with an average weekly audience of around 10 million unique users – as well as BBC Sport's ever-popular red button, mobile and Ceefax services.

Ben is leading the BBC's Digital Olympics project, which will help scope the broadcaster's editorial and technological strategy for London 2012.

He joined the BBC in 1998, first working for BBC News before being appointed Sports Editor on the launch team for the BBC Sport website.

Before that Ben worked as a journalist for BSkyB and the Press Association, having started his career in local newspapers.

Taken from the BBC Press Office.

I get the impression F1 has been scaled back to make way for the Olympics

[myownalias]

After a day to contemplate; I am more relaxed about the situation; it's still not want I want but at least extended highlights will be shown on the BBC; it could have worked that half the races were screened and the other half exclusively on Sky with no highlights on the BBC meaning a Sky subscription is needed to be able to follow F1 for all 20 races. I am in the fortunate position to have access to Sky TV (despite being in the United States) so I can watch the races live, should I wish to get up at 7am or earlier for most races!

What's done is done; no amount of complaining will change that fact, so now it's time to accept it, sure F1 will lose a sizeable chunk of recent following but that's life!

[hypertek]

Im in the US, and we get Speed TV (which is a subscription), If we want HD, that is $10 more. I do not have HD since I still live with my parents. Then there are a few races that are broadcast on Fox which is a local channel that is free (when a race is during a suitable time for US viewers who do not want to get up at 4AM to watch). Both coverage is full of commercials.

For the past 2 years I have been watching the BBC coverage via online stream and have been super satisfied with the programming. Very in-depth behind the pit walls interviews and passion behind the broadcast. So much better then the US broadcast which just get the feed and try their best to do commentary for it. I stayed up to 4:10 AM here just to watch the BBC qualifying coverage. I like Martin, Eddie, Jake and David's team of commentary and find them entertaining .

I am shocked and saddened to hear this change in broadcasting. Of course from a British legal side, my thoughts are not worth anything since I'm not even suppose to be watching the BBC stream. It just sucks.

[andrew]

I know one thing, Ben Gallop used to work for SKY before the BBC.

Well doesnt that say it all

Yep, no wonder he was keen to bring Sky to a meeting with MrE. Here's a brief biography on this Gallop plonker.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biogra ... llop.shtml

All this goes towards confirming what I have been saying. The BBC have screwed us in by jumping into bed with Sky and presenting MrE with a deal that was by far superior to anything else that was on offer.

I likes bein' right me.

The sad fact is everyone one that counts (by counts I mean those with the purse strings - the teams, BBC, Sky, MrE) is a winner.

[F1IsInMyBlood]

In fact here is his Biography:

Ben Gallop is Head of Formula 1 at the BBC, taking on the role at the beginning of the 2009 season, the sport's first back on the BBC in 12 years.

In addition he heads up the department which looks after BBC Sport's new media services. He has responsibility for bbc.co.uk/sport – which is the largest sports website in the UK, with an average weekly audience of around 10 million unique users – as well as BBC Sport's ever-popular red button, mobile and Ceefax services.

Ben is leading the BBC's Digital Olympics project, which will help scope the broadcaster's editorial and technological strategy for London 2012.

He joined the BBC in 1998, first working for BBC News before being appointed Sports Editor on the launch team for the BBC Sport website.

Before that Ben worked as a journalist for BSkyB and the Press Association, having started his career in local newspapers.

Taken from the BBC Press Office.

I get the impression F1 has been scaled back to make way for the Olympics

I know one thing, Ben Gallop used to work for SKY before the BBC.

Well doesnt that say it all

Yep, no wonder he was keen to bring Sky to a meeting with MrE. Here's a brief biography on this Gallop plonker.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biogra ... llop.shtml

All this goes towards confirming what I have been saying. The BBC have screwed us in by jumping into bed with Sky and presenting MrE with a deal that was by far superior to anything else that was on offer.

I likes bein' right me.

The sad fact is everyone one that counts (by counts I mean those with the purse strings - the teams, BBC, Sky, MrE) is a winner.

Also appears you like to repeat points made earlier too.