FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[LRW]

Yeah I think its a case of: " I worked my fingers to the bone all my life to build this business up; why should anyone else profit from it when Im gone. Im going to run the whole thing into the ground..."

[What's Burning?]

So the problem with Ecclestone is that he's a senile greedy old bar steward that forgets the crap that spews from his mouth one minute and contradicts himself the next.

One minute he's not interested in alternate accessibility into the F1 brand. While in the previous interview LRW posted he's saying how declining TV numbers aren't an issue because more and more people are watching and getting access via their iPads.

I swear it's as if he's a member of this very forum.

ESPNF1 Bernie Ecclestone does not believe Formula One should be chasing a younger generation of fans because they do not have the money to buy the products the sport advertises.

F1 television and live audiences have been declining in recent years, with teams struggling to find sponsors to alleviate the growing cost of competing in the sport. Caterham and Marussia's recent fall into administration has highlighted the financial problems facing smaller teams, but Ecclestone does not think embracing younger fans is a solution.

"If you have a brand that you want to put in front of a few hundred million people, I can do that easily for you on television," the F1 supremo told Campaign Pacific-Asia. "Now, you're telling me I need to find a channel to get this 15-year-old to watch Formula One because somebody wants to put out a new brand in front of them? They are not going to be interested in the slightest bit.

"Young kids will see the Rolex brand, but are they going to go and buy one? They can't afford it. Or our other sponsor, UBS - these kids don't care about banking. They haven't got enough money to put in the bloody banks anyway. That's what I think. I don't know why people want to get to the so-called 'young generation'. Why do they want to do that? Is it to sell them something? Most of these kids haven't got any money.

"I'd rather get to the 70-year-old guy who's got plenty of cash. So, there's no point trying to reach these kids because they won't buy any of the products here and if marketers are aiming at this audience, then maybe they should advertise with Disney."

While F1 has taken steps this year to embrace a more modern social media strategy Ecclestone does not see the benefit of sites such as Twitter.

"I'm not interested in tweeting, Facebook and whatever this nonsense is. I tried to find out but in any case I'm too old-fashioned. I couldn't see any value in it. And, I don't know what the so-called 'young generation' of today really wants. What is it? If you ask a 15 or 16-year-old kid, 'What do you want?' they don't know."

Ecclestone added: "How are you going to get all the fans to meet these drivers, who don't even want to meet their girlfriends? You are right that we should use social media to promote Formula One. I just don't know how."

[LRW]

The thing that amuses me is, I got into the sport when I was in my early teens, as do many others.

Does he think that the "younger generation", who he currently is not interested in, are never going to grow up into wealthy individuals?

edit: Bernie is taking a beating on twitter right now. Not that he will care obviously.

[What's Burning?]

I don't think Bernie's future thoughts go much further than a year or two. Why should he?

[LRW]

I don't think Bernie's future thoughts go much further than a year or two. Why should he?

Some of the things he says and does, I sometimes wonder if he thinks further than the next week...?

[darwin dali]

I don't think Bernie's future thoughts go much further than a year or two. Why should he?

Some of the things he says and does, I sometimes wonder if he thinks further than the next week...?

Bernie thinks before he talks?

[Jabberwocky]

The thing that amuses me is, I got into the sport when I was in my early teens, as do many others.

Does he think that the "younger generation", who he currently is not interested in, are never going to grow up into wealthy individuals?

edit: Bernie is taking a beating on twitter right now. Not that he will care obviously.

Does he know what twitter is?

[LRW]

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/11/14/ecclestone-f1-doesnt-need-cars/#.VGaEUmtFCBZ

[Roth]

He should get the gaming industry involved for kids and big kids alike. It dwarfs the dwarf.

Imagine it - Maldo with an Angry Birds livery.

[andrew]

He should get the gaming industry involved for kids and big kids alike. It dwarfs the dwarf.

Kind of already is with the yearly F1 release.

[racechick]

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/11/14/ecclestone-f1-doesnt-need-cars/#.VGaEUmtFCBZ

[Roth]

He should get the gaming industry involved for kids and big kids alike. It dwarfs the dwarf.

Kind of already is with the yearly F1 release.

True enough. It's insular though, preaching to the converted, but not on the cars.

[Hammer278]

I don't think Bernie's future thoughts go much further than a year or two. Why should he?

Exactly.

Senile old man, but IMO he's earned the right to be a madman. From car salesman to one of the most powerful guys in sports.

[Jabberwocky]

If we can see it then are CVC just blinded by the profits? Or do they intend to sell it off in a year or so before the bubble bursts.

[What's Burning?]

We're good here, that's why.