[MK Chris]

It is our right, to be able to watch it on free to air television - it says as much in the Concorde Agreement; however, they've managed to twist that so that we only get to watch half of it. As fans who spend a lot of money (as Zoot says) lining Bernie's pockets by going to the British Grand Prix, buying merchandise, etc - it should be our right to watch an entire season. British motorsport fans are the most passionate in the world and this is just alienating them.

[DevilsDuck]

You're just being silly now

[MK Chris]

Why?

[DevilsDuck]

Because, although I dont agree with it going to Sky, its not your right to have it on free to air TV.

You can say that the football argument doesnt work, but I prefer football to F1, so is it my right to have all Man Utd matches on free to air tv?

[MK Chris]

Well, as I said - the Premier League alone produces hundreds of matches per season, whereas there are a maximum of 20 Grands Prix a year; it's not unreasonable to expect them to be on free-to-air TV, particularly when it's listed in the Concorde Agreement.

[DevilsDuck]

But I don't want to see them all and on that basis...motor sport has 100s of different races in general

[MK Chris]

on that basis...motor sport has 100s of different races in general

True, but I specifically referred solely to the pinnacle of football and the most popular platform in this country; which is why the Premier League is comparable in this case to Formula One.

[Nicola_Red]

Is it right that the terms of the Concorde Agreement are kept strictly secret from the public? I don't care about F1 but I'm curious about this from a media point of view...

[MK Chris]

Yes, that has always been the case historically, however, I believe they were leaked online a few years ago.

[Nicola_Red]

Yeah, wiki says that the 1997 agreement was leaked by a journalist (I do know that wiki is not always a reliable source!) But if nobody knows exactly what's in the 2009 agreement, how do you know this breaks it?

[DevilsDuck]

on that basis...motor sport has 100s of different races in general

True, but I specifically referred solely to the pinnacle of football and the most popular platform in this country; which is why the Premier League is comparable in this case to Formula One.

Well in that case I refer primarily to Man Utd as that is who I want to watch...it is now my right to have all of Man Utds matches on free to air TV!

[Yudster]

There is no automatic right to be able to watch F1 on terrestrial TV. People who want to do it are understandably pissed off because their toy is being taken away from them - I would be pissed off too, but there's no right. Its television, not civil liberties people.

[DevilsDuck]

Next they will take Glee away from us and that would be bang out of order!

[bmstinton93]

They already have. Its moving to Sky

[dimtimjim]

F1 AND Glee......!

Makes you wander if you should keep breathing in n out, duntit?!

[Nicola_Red]

It does remind me somewhat of when C4 lost Lost to Sky. I lived in a house without Sky at the time, I was gutted. Managed to download it, thank goodness.

[bmstinton93]

It stopped me from watching it completely until about season 5 when i started hearing good things about it so i then decided to download and watch them

[Nicola_Red]

I knew loads of people who just stopped watching it, yeah. So I guess just like with F1, you've gotta be a hardcore fan to find a way

[hdsport82]

how is this good for the sport in any way shape or form?!!!!!

Well for Bernie he has 2 of the main broadcasters in the UK locked into a deal beyond the expiry of the current Concorde Agreement, reducing the avenues for any FOTA breakaway whilst getting an increase in revenue at the same time.

For those who don't have SKY it will be a shock but this was on the cards for months and there is an alternative that doesn't involve looking for illegal streams. Get a dirt cheap FTA satellite system (well under £100) and point the dish at 19.2E and watch it on RTL. Downside it's in German (use 5 Live instead for sound) and it has adverts but I believe they still do split screen for ad breaks (not 100% sure on that).

[skyegirl]

I'm just flicking through the thread and have noticed that 2 members have got the nationality of one of the drivers' wrong. I will not give their names out, just to save some embarrassment, but if you really want to know who, and what the mistake is, just pm me. If i get a lot of pms i would post the mistake out.

[Yudster]

I've decided that I think you are weird.

[skyegirl]

Who, me?

[bmstinton93]

Yes, who else?

[skyegirl]

Well, thats just because you cant handle the awesome power that a typical scottish person has. The ability to be special :p

[Yudster]

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever that you are, indeed, truly special.