Formula 1 tv coverage

"Bernie Ecclestone is supporting a push to make F1 more popular in America. A new entity, Grand Prix Entertainment (GPE), has bought the exclusive F1 TV rights and signed an agreement with channel 'CBS' to televise four grands prix live in the 'States in 2005.

GPE was formed by Andy Heyward and Casey Wasserman. "Andy and I have been talking for a while about the possibility of working together," said Bernie. "This is an important step forward in our strategy to ... reach a wider audience (in the US)."

GPE will also develop other 'strategies' to further expand F1's current domestic audience. Existing US broadcaster, Speed Channel, will air the remaining fifteen grands prix."

 

also:
"The American network CBS Sports is to give Formula 1 coverage a try in 2005. The network has agreed a deal to broadcast four Grands Prix, beginning in late April, with two hour-long lifestyle specials to promote Formula 1 in the United States. This will give F1 a total of 10 hours of programming on a US network. The deal was put together by DEC Entertainment which recently secured the US rights to Formula 1.


The first race to be aired will be the San Marino Grand Prix which will be broadcast on April 24. CBS will then show the events at Barcelona, the Nurburgring and will show the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal live.


Robert J. Correa, the senior vice-president of programming at CBS Sports, says Formula 1 will fit well into CBS's racing package."

 

It will be interesting if it takes in the US. I know in the past it has not gone well. Most folks feel it is kind of like the sport of kings. Its like trying to put professional soccer on US TV. It would be good if a major network gives it a play. That way we'll see what the general publick thinks.

 

Here is a link to the program schedule for Speed TV, It shows the first F1 race broadcasting time.

http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/index.php?m=03&d=5&ts=1109998800&timezone=-3&subcat=&program=&usecal=yes

 

I would like to see F1 races broadcast in HDTV.

Big screen, HTDV, surround system turned up....OH YEA.