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BBC considers Formula One's future

ESPNF1 Staff
March 13, 2011 « Michael Schumacher could go on and on | »
Is the BBC falling out of love with Formula One? © Sutton Images
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The Media Guardian has reported the BBC is reviewing its commitment to Formula One as it bids to cut costs after the licence fee freeze.

Formula One only returned to the BBC in 2009 after a spell with ITV, but the paper said it was "not peak-time programming, and as a result is viewed as a relatively expensive part of the sports schedule".

The BBC has a five-year deal running through to 2014 at a cost of £40 million per annum, and while very popular with fans, critics claim its offers poor value for money at non-peak times.

A BBC spokesman told the newspaper: "We are looking at a range of ideas and it would be wrong to comment on what is speculation."

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