The
FIA Formula 1 World Championship will return to the
BBC in the UK from 2009.
It follows a twelve year absence from the Licence Fee-supported broadcasting institution, which lost out to
ITV Sport following the 1996 season, when
Damon Hill won the world championship.
The new five-year deal will see F1 broadcast not only on television and radio, but also on the
BBC Sport website.
F1 boss
Bernie Ecclestone believes it is the right time for the championship to return to the
BBC and that the 'Corporation has some ground-breaking plans for next year.
"I am delighted to conclude this new deal with the
BBC," Ecclestone told
BBC Sport Online. "It is an exciting time in
Formula One and the
BBC has some innovative new ideas to consolidate and expand our UK fan base."
Ecclestone added though that
ITV F1 hadn't done anything wrong and while coverage has increased with
ITV F1 - qualifying is now a regular feature for example, advert breaks have never been popular.
"It's not that we are unhappy with
ITV but I think maybe they will have their hands full with other things and maybe the
BBC can service us a bit better," Ecclestone continued.
"I think they will be able to service us an awful lot better, a little bit more time.
"I think it will be good, a fresh face. I'm not complaining about
ITV, I'm not saying they did a bad job or anything like that.
"But with all the other things they are loaded up with - and who knows they will get some more stuff - maybe it will be a bit more difficult to spend as much time on us. I think the
BBC will do that."
Dominic Coles,
BBC Sport director of sport rights, is happy to have got F1 back, although how much it has cost has not been disclosed.
"The biggest motorsporting event in the world is returning home after 12 years," he added. "We were delighted when Bernie Ecclestone approached us about the return of F1 to the
BBC.
