European Grand Prix 2010 and Fox TV

I’ve moaned before about Fox TVs inability to schedule Formula 1 motorsport in a reasonable manner.  Looks like they’ve done it again…

For those wondering, the European Grand Prix will be aired as follows:

• on Fox and not Speed TV.
• at 12 Noon, and not either live or at a more traditional 1pm.
• clashing with the end of the England vs Germany world cup knockout game, which since most F1 fans are expats from Europe, and this is a world cup grudge match of two well known European nations I’d expect a small dent in viewing figures!
• with continual distractions and animated pools of vomit across the lower third of the screen for Fox shows you don’t want to watch, which will invariably obscure the telemetry or driver information at a critical moment.

So all I need to do now is avoid all media sources until noon…

Complaining about F1 on Fox again

Yet again I find myself sat on a Sunday morning excited for the 2009 Formula 1 Grand Prix from Germany, and yet again the schedulers at Fox TV have decided to bring their own twisted logic into play.

There are a few expected behaviours for television companies showing Formula One racing:

1. Live is better than time delayed.
2. If you want to schedule for a better “local” viewing time, then races start at 1pm.
3. If you schedule a “local” time, also show the race live for the real fans!
4. Don’t cut to commercials in the last third of the race.
5. Don’t let the regular commentator talk over the motorsport specialists.
6. Pre-race is important, show the pre-race walk of the grid.
7. Post-race is important, show the interviews in full.

Unfortunately, I don’t think Fox got that memo.

Today’s German Grand Prix is showing at 3pm EST on Fox (Channel 5 for those with Cox Cable).  There was no live broadcast of the race, and they couldn’t even fit it in at a more reasonable start time of 1pm because they need to show a rerun of Monk!

So come on BBC Worldwide, pull yer finger out and get the iPlayer working for everyone.  I’d have paid to watch this morning’s race live via the BBC, and after a quick poll of both expats and American F1 fans I’m not the only one who’d shell out to alleviate the annoyance of Fox’s poor scheduling and badly timed commercial breaks.

What Iran can learn from the FIA

It looks like common sense has prevailed, with Max Mosely leaving the FIA and Formula 1 finding new stability.

This seems to be a very good lesson for the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; When your choices are stick with a bad president and drive headlong toward splits within the country and the risk of civil war or alternatively ditch the unpopular president and make your position all the more secure by seeming to be accessible and understanding (even if you’re not) then even a hardline ruler like Berni Ecclestone can make the right decision after a week of protesting!

So now hopefully with the risk of a break-away series fading away we can focus on the horrific human rights violations, and mockery of free speech and democracy in Iran!

• BBC News – F1 deal ends threat of breakaway
• BBC News – Iran “will not yield” over poll

Watcha gonna do now Berni?

Formula 1 championship leader Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso have all decided enough is enough and have threatened to walk out and launch a new championship series in 2010.

• BBC News – F1 teams drop breakaway bombshell
• The Telegraph – Formula One breakaway series only option, say FOTA eight

So it looks like Max and Berni’s attempts to squeeze yet more money from the F1 golden goose may have back fired.

What will happen next?

This is almost more exciting than the races this season!  Is there time to get a new series set up by next year?  Will Berni come back to the table to renegotiate?  Will Max be sacrificed to try and save the crown jewels of motor sport?  I’m on the edge of my seat!

Singapore Grand Prix 2008 – As it happened

What happened to track requirements Berni?

Silverstone, with broad runoffs, soft tyre walls, and vastly improved facilities doesn’t make the grade from 2010 but somehow Singapore with its limited to no runoff, hard concrete barriers topped by crash fencing, and dangerously dazzling lighting makes it in to the F1 circuits list.  Oh, I forgot, it is all about money these days, forget the driver safety we just need cash in the wallet and international viewing figures.

I’ll be posting thoughts through the race here as they come to me…