Formula 1's switch-over to the
BBC from the 2009 season has come under further political scrutiny, with two members of Parliament calling for an inquiry into the effect the new deal will have on licence-payers.
The five-year-contract – which was announced late last week – has shocked the grand prix paddock and seasoned observers alike, with
ITV's renewed agreement not set to expire until the end of the 2010 campaign.
F1 ringmaster
Bernie Ecclestone, however, pulled the rug out from underneath
ITV's feet by cutting the deal off two years early, negotiating for the sport to return to the
Beeb, which originally broadcast the sport up until the end of 1996.
“The biggest motorsport event in the world is returning home after twelve years,” was
BBC director of sports rights Dominic Coles' reaction to the news. “We were delighted when Bernie Ecclestone approached us about the return of F1 to the
BBC.
“F1 is a crown jewel of sports broadcasting, so to bring the rights back to their traditional home from 2009 is tremendously exciting.”
“
ITV plc confirmed that it has decided to exit Formula 1 at the end of this season,” added a spokesman for the commercial broadcaster. “This was a straightforward commercial decision for
ITV, and we're pleased that Formula 1 will continue to be broadcast free-to-air.”
However, Labour MP for Thurrock Andrew MacKinlay voiced his concerns over the state-owned broadcaster's new deal during the weekly
Business Questions session in the House of Commons.
“[The
BBC news coverage of the announcement] didn't ask or probe the [
BBC] management [as to] how much the licence-payer is going to have to pay for something which could be provided, and should be provided, on commercial television,” he was quoted as having said by
www.eemsonline.co.uk.
“Isn't it time that the
BBC news editors were brought to book? They should be probing
BBC management rather than crawling to it.”
