"
F1 is a crown jewel of sports broadcasting, so to bring the rights back to their traditional home from 2009 is tremendously exciting.
"Fans will be able to enjoy uninterrupted, state of the art and innovative coverage from BBC Sport, across all of our TV, radio and new media platforms, for the first time since 1996."
The prospect of 'state of the art and innovative coverage' from the
BBC is an exciting one for UK fans. The
BBC has developed a reputation over the last few years for really using things like digital TV's 'Red Button' and trying to produce truly interactive broadcasts. It is possible fans could see the sort of detailed and wide-ranging coverage for F1 that events such as Wimbledon enjoy, or 'Red Button' extended coverage similar to the
BBC's MotoGP programmes.
No details of the presenting team have been announced as yet.
ITV meanwhile has said that the decision to not to continue with F1 was a 'commercial' one, although its deal to broadcast the sport wasn't due to expire until 2010.
"
ITV plc today confirmed that it has decided to exit
Formula One at the end of this season," read a brief statement. "This was a straightforward commercial decision for
ITV and we are pleased that F1 will continue to be broadcast free-to-air.
ITV will continue to broadcast live coverage of every race this season as
Lewis Hamilton attempts to win his first world championship."
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