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Martin Brundle (GBR) ITV F1 Commentator with Sir Stirling Moss (GBR) Australian Formula One Grand Prix, 01-02/04/06, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia

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Formula 1 » Ecclestone pulled plug on ITV

Saturday, 22nd March 2008

Concerns over commitment prompted switch to BBC

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Bernie Ecclestone has revealed that it was his decision to terminate ITV's contract to broadcast Formula One in Britain, handing the deal back to the BBC.

News broke of F1's return to its former home on Thursday, but Ecclestone only revealed his part in the saga when the F1 circus reconvened at Sepang for this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix. Concerned that ITV's focus on the latest bidding war for Champions League football coverage may prove detrimental to its Formula One commitment, he admitted that he took the decision to bring an early end to the broadcaster's five-year deal.

"There was an option and I had the option," he told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper, referring to a get-out clause that could be activated during the 2008 campaign, "It was my option and I decided to cut loose from it."

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ITV Sport, meanwhile, is still claiming that it took the decision to shelve its F1 involvement in order to pay for the Champions League package, no doubt keen to save face.

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