ITV F1 Shambles – how it was reported.

The shambles of ITV’s 2005 San Marino F1 coverage has been picked up by several of the UK’s newspapers and news websites. Here’s what they’re saying:

Jim Rosenthal, the presenter of ITV’s formula one coverage, sided with disbelieving viewers last night after the channel broke away from the climax of the San Marino grand prix to take a commercial break. The Guardian

Neil Duncanson, executive producer of ITV F1, confessed: “None of us are happy. The Sun

Furious fans flooded ITV with complaints after producers cut away from the action to an advertising break with three laps remaining as the world champion and young charger Fernando Alonso diced for victory. The Mirror

Mark Whittell, a spokesman for ITV Sport, continued to defend their coverage. arguing that they were â€˜obliged to include five commercial breaks during a race and that they did not want to take the final break while Jenson Button was in the leadâ€™. However, as the Guardian pointed out, Button lost the lead on the 47th lap of the 62-lap race. Planet-F1

ITV admitted that it was as frustrated as anyone, but that it had obligations to its advertisers. “They are the people that keep things like Formula One on television,” a spokesman insisted. crash.net

Of course you don’t hear or see any of this. You’ve already put your foot through the TV set and are currently en-route to the headquarters of the broadcaster, along with several hundred thousand others, to let said commentator, and his employers, know how you really feel. pitpass.com

Notably, at the time of writing, ITV have yet to mention the debacle on their website.

If you’ve seen other coverage, please post a link in the box below.

30 Comments

FocusF1.com says:

25/04/2005 at 14:37

Reports said ITV had delayed going to a scheduled commercial break when Jenson Button briefly led, and again when the Schumacher-Alonso duel began. When the latter did not resolve, though, eventually ITV was ‘forced’ to leave the action, a source told Autosport. FocusF1.com
Marc says:

25/04/2005 at 15:23

F1 Central has a story. As does Yahoo UK. And finally, PitPass has an excellent Talking Points column on this issue.
greenteaguzzler says:

25/04/2005 at 15:40

It’s interesting that the ITV are reportedly claiming that they have ‘obligations to its advertisers’ to have an ad break. If I were a company director that paid money for an advertisement specifically aimed at a F1 audience, the last thing I’d want is my product and brand to be in any way linked to the events that took place on Sunday. Surely the negative impact of such advertising on companies, such as Audi, outweigh the cost of the ad itself, and maybe ITV are in some way responsible for not putting clauses into their contracts to safeguard such situations that are negative to ITV, the advertisers, the sponsors, and most of all the fans.
rich boakes says:

25/04/2005 at 21:35

Indeed, there are those who say there’s no such thing as bad advertising; and to those people, may I introduce Mr. Gerald Ratner.
Bob Billers says:

29/04/2005 at 12:31

It’s not rocket science for ITV to record the race during the ad break ( should the action demand it ) and then bring the viewer back into the action at the same point they left. Ok, they introduce a small program extension but they would have avoided all these problems.
mum says:

05/05/2005 at 10:41

As I remember it, just before the disastrous cut away to the adverts, the commentator was heard to say something along the lines of…” Don’t go anywhere! Keep watching this!”
The sad thing is that this was the most exciting GP in years. We could not believe our eyes/ears when the went away for all but the last lap.
Herb says:

22/05/2005 at 17:17

I was really surprised that ITV waited so long into the race to show the final ad slot, as the rest of the race was fairly lack-lustre so they had ample opportunity to fit in their required adverts. Is this sort of thing just down to bad planning or an inability to think on their feet?
Fred Smith says:

02/06/2005 at 13:44

I really have to laugh at the coverage this is getting. I live in South Africa. Up until this year we only got local commentators giving their usual 2p worth of uninformed comment, usually derived from websites. We were only allowed to see one of the qualifying sessions, and as far ad ad breaks they came at pre-determined times regardless of the action taking place. There were a few times when we got back the race leader had changed or a major player had crashed.

Now in 2005 we do not get any live coverage from the national broadcaster, only from the satellite providers like Supersport. The reason is that a “leading” Black business man who is well in with the government is involved with the A1 GP, and has termed F1 GP as a racist sport only open to white males.

So count yourselves blessed that you can watch the best sport in the world on an open channel.
Ted Else says:

20/06/2005 at 11:45

ITV really needs to look at their control over advertising slots. Without commenting on the tyre fiasco surrounding the American Grand Prix- a Producer decided that a ‘slot’ was necessary during the run up to the first pit stop of the Ferrari’s- cutting in when Ruben’s team were getting ready- rejoining at the end of Michael’s pit stop- which led to Ruben’s lead for a few laps. ITV needs to employ a Producer who understands the sport and give him the authority to put that ‘understanding’ into practice.
Nick Sayle says:

21/06/2005 at 08:38

I understand the need for ITV to slot it ads to the live coverage. There timing is not good though. I would like to see the whole race as we used to on BBC. Why cant they show the whole race at least when they show the replay.
Vince Maurici says:

14/10/2005 at 08:22

Again ITV has upset fans by not showing the Japanese qualifying live and and not even showing a highlighted version at midday, as this is the slot for most of the races in the season. This qualifying session was one of the best of the season.
Me and my son did not want to stay up until 1 am and having to get up at 5 am to watch the race live.
They are also not showing the Chinese qualifying live.
The races are being ruined by the intense commercial break and seem to be more frequent and longer in the final third of the race. We now switch to Radio 5 live during these breaks. We would like to see the BBC taking it back. I am considering installing a satelite and watch it on Italian or german TV as the coverage is much better.
My son is also a kart racer and is racing alongside Martin Brundle son, next time I meet Martin at the kart track I will air my views for all F1 fans.
alex says:

22/04/2006 at 09:03

Quite simple, They do not show ads during a 90 min football match,which is probably the 2nd best sport in the world. Also there is nothing more frustrating than watching an advert for shampoo,yogurt,panty liners and headache tablets.

Only f1 fans watch f1, keep it relative. I am sure I am not alone, when the ads do come on I either go to the toilet,the beer fridge or the kettle depending what time it is. If the ads had some link to sport maybe it would discourage the mass exordus from living rooms all over the world.

I understand the need for the ads but you wouldnt show porn between kids programmes…
Gary Levy says:

27/04/2006 at 14:53

I saw that race and was shocked when the adverts come on, it’s a disgrace that it was allowed due to the obligations they had with there advertising companys.

Probably the best race of that year and it was screwed up at the end by the big directors who think they know best. All they have done is dented the trust that is between the public and the itv channel to host this sport.

I’d love to see this put back onto the BBC, least we won’t get any mess ups like last year.
Tim Lowther says:

30/04/2006 at 13:05

If ITV keeps breaking at the action points with todays media/commications technology,
how long before the fans look for alt. means to watch the Grand Prix?
Allen Coughlan says:

13/05/2006 at 14:01

I still haven’t heard why Jim Rosenthal was ‘elbowed’ ! Can someone enlighten me?
Big Al
Trevor Walden says:

26/06/2006 at 12:33

June 26 after the Canadian Grand Prix. Not a wonderful race but I still bother to watch. Ad breaks destroy the flow, fuel stops also break the race into micro-sprints. The result is very little racing shown live, let alone wheel to wheel action. The only effective input to FIA rule makers is the TV companies (and their advertisers). ITV are determined to engage football fans in F1. There’s TinTops for them. Keep your F1 fans by getting rid of pitstops as far as possible, get rid of technical aids so drivers can make mistakes again. Believe it or not football fans might actually like to see competitive driving.
Les says:

03/07/2006 at 01:29

I don’t blame ITV, I blame Bernie Ecclestone and his cronies for awarding the contract to ITV in the first place knowing full well that fans would be subjected to advertising during a race, something that would never happen between any half of a any football match on ITV. If F1 had any regard for their fans they could have insisted that there were no advertisements during a race. ITV for their part should stick to football and soaps. Formula 1 doesn’t need inane retoric or anything alse that detracts from the race.
Graham Wright says:

16/07/2006 at 12:36

I’m sitting here ‘trying’ to watch the French Grand Prix, continually broken by these damn adverts that seem to get more and more drawn out. What has that stupid chicken that ITV insist on adding got to do with anything? I used to watch GP racing religiously but this ITV coverage is annoying.I’m only watching now because the season is ‘hotting up’ a bit. Otherwise I generally settle for hopping back and forth through the channels. I just wish it could go back to BBC. Oh, here we go again – more bloody adverts!
Noel Eyres says:

29/07/2006 at 17:16

Hi . I am a 59 1/2 yr old male . I first became interested in FI after reading about Stirlings victory at Monaco in a Lotus .Road & track was my source . I have watched or seen every GP since then , but have missed the last 2 GPs because it is so boring . I think GP2 is better because I only want to see racing . I have little interest in whether a car has a new gismo or what . No passing . What to do about it . Look at an 80s gp and see how the cars moved about a lot on the track . It was a lot more interesting . Goodbye GP . Noel
David Brenner says:

30/07/2006 at 15:19

Post German GP, I am FED UP with ITV’s F1 coverage . The adverts ruin the flow of the race. Can you imagine football fans having to put up with this crap? There would be riots! James Allen is getting on my nuts:

1) “Michael Schumacher has won 89 Grand PREEEEEZ.” This is “Delboy French”. “Grand Prix” is pronounced the same regardless of it being singular or plural! Murray always got these basic things correct, and he’s an old-timer!

2) “The McLaren team made some progress during their test at JEREZZZZZ”. “Delboy Spanish”, anyone? Jerez is pronounced “Hair-eth” …. not Jerezz.

3) There was one race a few years ago where he started his infamous “GOOOOOOOOO” five seconds after the start :-/

The ITV-F1 show might as well be renamed “The Jenson Button Show”. The Button-bias is blatant. They cut Kimi Raikkonen’s podium press conference for Jenson’s interview. He finished an incredible FOURTH Never mind Ferrari’s incredible victory or Kimi’s fine fight up to 3rd place …. let’s talk to Mr Fourth Place!

Can I watch F1 in the UK WITHOUT listening to the “Button Grand Preez” Brigade?
David Rix says:

04/08/2006 at 12:41

I agree there is way too much of a bias in the ITV coverage towards Button. If Martin wasn’t so good the commentary would make the racing unbearable and even he is being brought down by Allen. Five Live might have to fill commentate for me soon! Still – at least Grim Jim has gone.

As for the ads, are they getting longer or what? At least you can tell when a break is looming so you can hit mute or change channel to avoid the chickens. Maybe we should lobby Bernie, or something. In the FIA survey i gave TV coverage the lowest score possible and hope all the Brits did they could then see it as a reflection of the host rather than the actual tv feed which is really on the up
Old Bird says:

06/08/2006 at 15:56

I have been watching F1 since I can remember and after 59 years have never been as frustrated. Why don’t they use a Split screen for the adverts? I make a point of Never Buying anything that is advertised during F1/Moto GP or Superbikes. All do the same, we might get somewhere. Can anyone imagine the FA Cup Final being in-cut with adverts, I don’t think so, so why F1?
Ste says:

07/08/2006 at 22:28

Put it back on BBC, bring back ‘The Chain’ !!!
Lesley says:

08/08/2006 at 09:08

I think the Hungarian director almost got his own back on Button this weekend, when instead of seeing Jenson Button’s successful final lap, we were treated to prolonged views of the goings-on in the ‘red’ corner.

By the way, please can anyone explain to me why M.S. was given a finishing position, when he had clearly retired?
Arthur J. Wynne says:

09/09/2006 at 13:10

for my money the whole formula 1 coverage of ITV has been useless at all times with total bias toward Ferrari and Michael Schumaker, listen to the excitement in the commentaters voice.
Roy Bowden says:

10/09/2006 at 03:34

There is NO REASON to show add’s through live coverage of the GP race
You dont show add’s through football matches
If there is a real reason for the add’s then do what they do on the continent and show it on a split screen
Ann Armsby says:

21/09/2006 at 23:53

I am a female pensioner in my mid-sixties who was introduced to the thrills of Formula one racing in the early 1970s by the current boyfriend who eventually aggravated me as much as the ITV coverage. After every race this season I’ve declared I will not watch another Grand Prix until Bernie Ecclestone & ITV realise the disservice they hace done to the many thousands of British F1 fans.

I go back to the old days of such wonderful racing legends like Alain Prost,Keke Rosberg and James Hunt, and my favourite of all Ricardo Patrese I find this current ITV obsession with Jensen Button intensely infuriating, OK so he’s a Brit, and purely for that reason alone I am delighted when he does well.

I wonder if I will find the strength to resist watching the rest of the season’s Grands Prix. Immediately after every race I always read the BBC1 Teletext motor racing pages to get their unbiassed view along with some honest reporting of the race as it really was.
Gavin says:

01/10/2006 at 10:33

Personaly i’m really fed up with ITV’s coverage of Formula One in general. Rarely do I get to watch any of the Races without already knowing the results as they seem to insist on spashing the results all over TV and Website throughout the day before the races is aired on the Sunday. Maybe im the weird one, but I really dont fancy waiting up till 4am sometimes to watch a race live. Unfortunatly another privilege football supporters have that we do not is the “if you do not want to know the result look away now” part of the news.

Laughably as I write this gripe the news just came up blerting out the winner of the Chinese GP. (Something I have the sense not to repeat in this post just in case anyone has the chance to read it in the next couple of hours).

Nevermind though because I already knew the result, not wanting to go on ITV to check my guide for the start time of the GP, I attempted my patented holding hand over screen on ITV website looking for tv guide link at the top technique. This usually works as I have a tablet pc with a small screen and big hands (lol). Unfortunatly today ITV were extra vigilant spashing the result over ever bit they could squeeze it into so I still managed to get a glipse of it.

So at this point I wonder why they bother re-airing the late night races. So well done ITV, well done for being compelely incompetent at servicing the customers needs you muppets!
Rich says:

01/10/2006 at 15:09

Every week ITV come up with an inventive new way of spoiling the race. This week, the producer/editor needs to be especially commended for helping thousands of F1 fans miss the start of the race.

The programme, scheduled as a rerun of the Chinese GP (and not “highlights”) began as normal with a little waffle about teams, cars, qualifting and such line.

The typical run of events is that as the race countdown begins, Martin Brundle does his grid walk and chats to the racers, he hands back to his co-presenter; ITV then go to an advert break, giving MB tiem to get back to the commentary box. As the Ad-Break finishes, the FIA F1 logo film is displayed, then the cars do their sighting/warm-up lap, and then the race starts.

Today, as Martin finished his grid walk, thousands of poor ITV viewers nipped off to the kitchen to make a pot of tea only to hear the familiar shouts of James Allen embarrasing himself with over excitement as the race commenced.

No adverts, no sighting lap, just the a race, already underway.

Gee, thanks ITV, perhaps you need to understand your viewers a little better.
Terry Seal says:

21/10/2006 at 23:10

This is typical of the anti motor sport lobby in TV.
This is not the only thing to happen like this the MotoGp race was ended on the BBC Yorks & Lincs 4 laps from the end they went to the bloody rugby where for 10 mins they talked about the run up to the match. Well tonight the ITN news as just given out the result before the Qualifying begins. USELESS no one should get a award for this type of TV reporting and coverage.
When will they get it right?