From GMM
Only half of next season's formula one races will be shown on free-to-air television in Britain.
It emerged on Friday morning that subscription channel Sky Sports has won joint rights with the BBC to televise grands prix between 2012 and 2018.
All sessions will be shown live on Sky, while the BBC will only have live qualifying and race coverage of ten "key races" including Silverstone, Monaco and the season finale.
The BBC's sports director Barbara Slater billed the news as good for British fans, despite their unprecedented loss of free-to-air coverage.
"With this new deal not only have we delivered significant savings but we have also ensured that through our live and extended highlights coverage all the action continues to be available to licence fee payers," she said.
In Hungary, Formula 1 teams are to seek clarification from Bernie Ecclestone on the new BBC/Sky television deal.
That move has led to outrage from fans, who are unhappy that they will not be able to follow every race on free-to-air television.
UPDATE
The teams are reportedly concerned that the deal is a breach of the Concorde Agreement clause about television coverage in key markets.
"Mr Ecclestone is expected to argue that the contract has not been broken because half of the races will still be screened on the BBC," said the Daily Mail.
BBC radio commentator David Croft on Friday afternoon announced that the teams will meet with Ecclestone to discuss the issue at the Hungaroring.
McLaren and FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh warned about jumping to conclusions.
"I don't think anyone should be immediately reacting to say this is good, bad, indifferent," he is quoted by the Telegraph, albeit confirming that the Concorde does include "safeguards" about TV coverage.
Only half of next season's formula one races will be shown on free-to-air television in Britain.
It emerged on Friday morning that subscription channel Sky Sports has won joint rights with the BBC to televise grands prix between 2012 and 2018.
All sessions will be shown live on Sky, while the BBC will only have live qualifying and race coverage of ten "key races" including Silverstone, Monaco and the season finale.
The BBC's sports director Barbara Slater billed the news as good for British fans, despite their unprecedented loss of free-to-air coverage.
"With this new deal not only have we delivered significant savings but we have also ensured that through our live and extended highlights coverage all the action continues to be available to licence fee payers," she said.
In Hungary, Formula 1 teams are to seek clarification from Bernie Ecclestone on the new BBC/Sky television deal.
That move has led to outrage from fans, who are unhappy that they will not be able to follow every race on free-to-air television.
UPDATE
The teams are reportedly concerned that the deal is a breach of the Concorde Agreement clause about television coverage in key markets.
"Mr Ecclestone is expected to argue that the contract has not been broken because half of the races will still be screened on the BBC," said the Daily Mail.
BBC radio commentator David Croft on Friday afternoon announced that the teams will meet with Ecclestone to discuss the issue at the Hungaroring.
McLaren and FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh warned about jumping to conclusions.
"I don't think anyone should be immediately reacting to say this is good, bad, indifferent," he is quoted by the Telegraph, albeit confirming that the Concorde does include "safeguards" about TV coverage.