So here’s the point: despite being a big fan of the BBC I think it’s right that the ITV has the coverage and not BBC. The BBC would not be able to justify the money needed to not only just buy the rights but also to put on the level of coverage we have grown to expect here in the UK (and those who watch the syndicated feed).

Bearing in mind the actual race sesions are directed by Bernie’s media company – the “world feed”, good coverage for me is essentially “everything else”. And includes:
* Top, experienced commentators
* Top name experts
* Pre/post coverage actually from the paddock (not London based studio)
* Good, indepth pre race coverage – both in terms of time and the quality of the features

Now, the BBC sure had Muzza, but it was light on any other experts. And F1 coverage consisted of Grandstand’s “and now we take you to the F1 race” moment before the parade lap. Very little pre-race coverage from what I remember.

I just came back from a trip to the States where I had the miss-fortunie to have to watch the F1 on the Speed channel. Despite having fairly big names like Peter Windsor (F1 Racing magazine sub editor and the guy who does the post-race press conferences) commentating, the coverage was appaling. Similar kind of thing – the main commentators (American baseball commentators I belive) knew nothing and there was no pre or post interviews or features. The lack of “Luise Goodman”-types also was very apparent. The presenter got an exlcusive post-crash interview with Scott Speed, but that was about it.

The presenters were not as clued up as ITV’s — even J Allen.

I think the BBC’s coverage would be like this — they just can’t justify the expense, in the same way that they can’t justify paying for premiership football.

I’m pleased coverage is with ITV, and I hope it stays there. I can see Rupert Murdoch potentially doing something interesting with F1 on Sky, but I think taking F1 one off the Free-To-Air channels would be severley detrimental to the sport here in the UK

And he does the explainy technical features, (which to be fair I don’t always understand), and is never patronising about it.

As a commentator? Bland and uninteresting. BUT, I feel I need to explain this before people jump on me.

Brundle is great. The reason why is because I feel I can trust him. He is old(ish – sorry Martin!) and he has had experience. In fact, a fair bit. He also asks the difficult questions at the right time. These moments are worth their weight in gold.

Blundell just does the crappy bits at the start and end of the show. Maybe if they made Mark do something that was featured more, or differently to what he currently does, I would respect him more. But just giving his opinion at the start and end of the race in a rather dull and uninspired tone – doesn’t do it for me. I thought he did okay when he covered for Brundle when he raced in Le Mans (or whatever), but currently, I feel he is wasted and undertrained – as in, he could be more of a commentator, just as long as I didn’t have to watch his motionless face. Hell, he’s better than Allen at any rate…

I imagine he is a handful to work with.

thing is, who’ll replace him? trying to replace walker is like having to replace john peel. who on earth ever could?

In fact, recently the driver press conference has been cut short. Rarely does the third placed man get a word on UK TV, unlike the days of the BBC where they stayed with the conference until that memorable line, “And now, some questions in your own language…”

Get him off our screens.

Tell me, what’s going on with the driver interviews at the end of the races? Maybe it’s just the SKY broadcast here in New Zealand but often lately – just when they start interviewing the winning drivers suddenly they play the soundtrack of Louise in the pits interviewing everyone else! And as luck would have it the volume of Louise’s microphone is louder than inside and so all we get to do is lip-read and watch the body language of the top three while we listen to DNF drivers expressing their woes. It drives me nuts! It must have happened three times in the last 4-5 races.