horse wrote:I tell you it will do the economy no good as I was going to invest in a big HD Freeview TV for next season and now I am not.
Joking aside, that is one of the reasons that I am P***ed off. When it was announced last year that F1 would be in HD on the BBC until the end of 2012, I persuaded myself (and the missus) that this was a sound investment, so I forked out £300 plus for a freview HD PVR, and a new TV at over a grand, and now I learn that the BAFTA winning F1 reporting team are going to provide only half a job for one of the two years previously mentioned.
I think that the BBC went to MrE and said something along the lines of "We can't afford to pay for the last year of our agreed contract, what can you do?" and MrE said "Well, you'd best club together with someone else", and rather than let it go to Channel 4 the BBC thought... "hmmm, Murdoch isn't popular at the moment but has a fat wallet, let's approach him"
End result, Beeb doing half a job, comitted fans like me who refuse to line Murdoch's pockets look elsewhere for their entertainment, sponsors will be less interested, but it's OK, those who chose to pay thrice for their TV (Adverts, Subscription to SKY and TV license) can watch.
Seems like an odd choice to me, but we'll see how it pans out. I will miss F1 (I will not watch the half BBC coverage, there is no point for me, it'd be like going on a date with a pricktease) and I will miss commenting on here.
Why should the lowest common denominator be the way forward? Why should WE lower our standards to match those of the rest of the world, when the rest of the world admires our service (I point you to the amount of countries in which the BBC output is sold and the numerous international awards they have won for this).
Frankly, I feel that the BBC should have pulled out of F1 altogether for 2012 and see how that left MrE. I object to a proportion of my license fee being wasted on covering half of the races, which is of absolutely no use to me. And yes, I do feel that I have the right to say this, since the BBC is funded by me, and every other license fee payer.
And finally a message to Pup, while I agree that almost every other country in the world has it "worse than us", and I understand why you might think we're whining about this unreasonably, I would just say this. Some time ago, when Petrol in the UK hit the equivalent of ten US dollars a gallon, I found a US based forum discussing fuel costs, and found everyone moaning about paying 5 dollars a gallon. I pointed out that actually, that's half what we pay and was told in no uncertain terms that things are different and you can't compare apples with oranges, well the same is true in this case. Just because your country's setup is different and you have to pay twice for everything, does not mean that is the best way to do things.
The answer to the ultimate question, of life, the Universe and ... Everything?
We get a cut down grid walk, no real interviews, and cut down podium and after the race press conference coverage. I'd love to get the same level you guys do!
