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BBC Announce 2013 F1 plans

BBC Announce 2013 F1 plans

Formula OneThe BBC have announced their plans for the 2013 Formula 1 season on TV and Radio, which will see Practice for live races shown on TV shown on BBC 2 this year.

There will be around 40 extra hours of television network output, with practice generally shown on BBC Two and BBC Two HD for this season on weekends where they will show races live. The changes come as part of DQF (Delivering Quality First). Ironically it was part of DQF which seen the BBC move away from being sole-broadcaster to sharing live race rights with Sky Sports from the start of 2012 season.

However since January 2013 a lot of BBC 2’s usual daytime line up has shifted to BBC 1 with movies, factual/current affairs programming and repeats being the mainstay of the new look line up, as well as (wherever possible) sport. Some sports such as the BDO Darts or Snooker which would be on the red button usually has moved to BBC 2 daytime, and has been a good filler for the channel. Red button services themselves have been cut back in the past few months also. F1 has aired practice on the red button since gaining the rights from ITV in 2009 with world feed pictures and commentary from BBC Radio 5 live.

In other news from the BBC, F1 journalist and broadcaster Tom Clarkson joins the TV presentation team as a pit-lane reporter alongside Lee McKenzie. Clarkson covered a few races last season after McKenzie presented four grand prix when Jake Humphrey was involved with Euro 2012 and the Olympics. Gary Anderson continues his role as Technical Analyst, however he will be used more across TV, Radio and online.

Suzy Perry takes over from the afor mentioned Jake Humphrey, as the former CBBC presenter heads to BT Sports to present football coverage as well as other programming for the BBC. Commentary again will come from Ben Edwards and David Coulthard. Eddie Jordan as pundit also.

On 5 live, James Allen and Jennie Gow continue as commentator and pit-lane reporter. Former F1 and current Le Man driver Allan McNish joins the team as co-commentator for 2013, although unclear if for the whole season as in the Press Centre it states only ‘six races starting from Spain’.

Murray Walker will continue with blogs and articles online.

Ben Gallop, BBC’s head of Formula 1, said: “Everyone on the BBC team is hugely excited about the new season. “Last year saw us rise to the challenge of bringing the action to fans through the mix of live television and highlights, delivering great programmes which were reflected in impressive audience figures.

“This year sees new faces, practice on BBC Two & HD on live race weekends and a greater sharing of talent across BBC television, radio and online.”

F1BBC will show nine races live this year, including the British, Canadian and Brazilian Grand Prix, and ten with extended highlights. 2013 sees a ninteen race calendar instead of twenty.

Sky Sports F1 HD will broadcast all sessions (practice, qualifying and race) from all ninteen venues and will largely have the same team including the likes of Simon Lazenby, David Croft, Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert and Damon Hill. However it appears Georgie Thompson has left Sky Sports F1 and rumored to be moving to BT Sports after not being happy at her ‘secondary role’ in 2012. She presented the weekly magazine show on the channel and presented analysis pieces alongside Anthony Davidson at the Sky Pad.

First F1 race of 2013 gets under way on Sunday the 17th of March at 6am.

[Written by Callum Patterson]

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