Confusion still swirls around BBC/Sky deal and what it will mean for viewers

There has been a lot of talk this morning – and, indeed, over the weekend – regarding the BBC/Sky deal and what will/will not be shown by the BBC from next year. With just 10 race weekends live on free to air, the focus of the speculation regards what the BBC plans to do with the other 10.

When the split-channel deal was announced in Hungary in July, there was immediately intrigue on this score with McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh saying he had been “assured” more than once by Bernie that the BBC would be broadcasting full re-runs of the races they do not show live (remember, this is extremely important to the teams given their business models/sponsors).

Bernie himself sounded less sure, saying the matter had yet to be decided although the joint BBC/Sky press release seemed pretty clear-cut, announcing “extensive BBC highlights on TV, Online and Mobile, of all races and qualifying sessions that BBC is not covering live.”

Could that still change? Could the BBC still broadcast full re-runs of the races as the fans/teams want?

It seems unlikely. You would imagine Sky have protected themselves against such a possibility, which would surely impact on the number of new subscribers who take up their subscription service. Then again, watching the race live may be enough of a pull for many F1 fans.

Bernie has also poured cold water on the possibility. He is being quoted this morning as saying that the BBC will be showing “75mins” highlights at “6pm” for the races which it does not have live.

Yet I understand from other sources that things are still “up in the air”. The 75mins, I am told, refers to the “minimum” amount of time which the BBC must show while the possibility of some races being shown ‘delayed live’ on the BBC and others covered by highlights is still being discussed.

I’m told this would depend on the timing of each individual grand prix due to the “hold back” clause in the deal with Sky which means the BBC cannot broadcast any footage until a certain amount of time has elapsed. During the European season that could fall during in the middle of the prime time evening slot, when a full re-run of a race is impossible.

Clearly there is still some confusion on the issue. And that is before we have even got to the question of whether all 20 races may be shown in full on the BBC Red Button or on iPlayer once the “hold back” time has elapsed.

With BBC Director General Mark Thompson due to face questioning from the Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport select committee next month – in the wake of some stinging letters from Lib Dem MP Don Foster who is scathing of the deal – there are lots of questions left unanswered, both about how the deal came about and what it will mean for TV viewers in this country going forward.