Bernie Ecclestone: F1 to Stay in the “Dark”
Bernie Ecclestone says the later start times for races in the Far East and Australia have boosted television audiences threefold.
This year was the first time the Grands Prix in Australia and Malaysia began at 5pm local time 5AM EST), three hours after their usual start time. This was done so the races could be broadcast live in Europe in the early morning, rather than the middle of the night, and it served its purpose.
Well, that’s what The Gnome claims as for its “purpose,” that’s an entirely different matter.
“All our TV up to now has been up 300 per cent,” says Ecclestone, adding: “We have been getting more than 50 per cent of the market share.”
As discerning fans know Bernie’s purpose is to toss a bone to the EU by “allowing” them the privilege of seeing F1 at a reasonable time. That’s what’s happening in his right hand.
In his left hand, the one you’re not supposed to see, watch or even know about, is an inexorable move away from as many EU race venues as possible for the cash rich Asia/Middle East regions. (Not to mention the Indian Sub-Continent)
Thus, TV ratings are up 300 percent to the exclusion of all other possible reasons.
Like for the first time in a couple decades someone other than Ferrari and Mclaren are at the pointy end of the grid.
Like Red Bull not only being competitive but winning an event and doing so with one of the young stars of the sport.
Like the Cinderella story of Brawn GP going from nothing two weeks before Australia to leading the drivers and manufacturers championships.
Like overwhelming interest in the FibberGate scandal.
Nah… none of that effects TV ratings. Not when you’re The Gnome pushing you own agenda.
Think I’m crazy about my right hand-left hand scenario?
I think not, Bernie says this about negotiations on bringing the US back into the F1 Circus (New York or California)
“But if this race is added, then another may have to go. When South Korea joins the calendar next year, there will be 18 Grands Prix and Ecclestone says that in the past the teams “just about lived with 18″.
Yeah, I’m nuts, but while your screaming that at me, scream good-bye to the British and or the French GP.
Or both.
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According to Bernie:
….F1 is increasingly moving eastwards, he cannot envisage a time without races in Europe since “it is a world championship”.
Yeah, he said the same thing thing about N. America, didn’t he? No Indy, no Montreal. And here we stand with our collective hands on our asses waiting for him to “grant” us the privilege of an F1 race.
And with fewer races on the Continent, TV viewership is bound to rise, if you can’t see it anywhere else.
Yeah, you gotta love Bernie saying he’s in negotiations for F1 to race in New York or California. It can only be at Watkins Glen and Infineon.
That means both have to be reworked to meet F1/FIA standards, a long process.
If not those two venues it mean tracks not built yet and a much longer process.
Bernie is operating in a sellers market where he can dictate the terms………..that is about to change in the coming years.
To all those venues that have been buttf**ked by Bernie (Spa springs to mind) “Put the boot into the greedy swine!”
I tend to believe that sellers market has run its course with respect to Malaysia.
At this point they’ve been pretty adamant about not spending cash on a lighting system and with the economy the way it is their attendance will be hurt because a sizable portion of their crowd comes from out of country.
I thought I read recently that Malaysia had caved and agreed to installing lighting?
Maybe you have George and I missed it.
I’ll see if I can track down the story.