Tags: F1
ITV F1 Shambles - how it was reported.
April 25th, 2005, by Rich.
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 ‘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 lead’. 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.
October 14th, 2005 at 8:22 am
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.
April 22nd, 2006 at 9:03 am
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…
April 27th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
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.
April 30th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
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?
May 13th, 2006 at 2:01 pm
I still haven’t heard why Jim Rosenthal was ‘elbowed’ ! Can someone enlighten me?
Big Al
June 26th, 2006 at 12:33 pm
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.
July 3rd, 2006 at 1:29 am
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.
July 16th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
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!
July 29th, 2006 at 5:16 pm
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
July 30th, 2006 at 3:19 pm
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? :-(