A British MP has written to Bernie Ecclestone and the BBC asking them to give a "clear account" of the events leading up to the decision to share F1 broadcasting rights between the BBC and Sky Sports from 2012.
The Liberal Democrat's spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport, Don Foster MP, claims there are contradictions between Ecclestone's version of events and those of Chief Adviser and Business Manager at BBC Sport Neil Land. The deal, which will see just 10 live races broadcast free-to-air on the BBC next year, provoked backlash from UK fans and Foster is concerned that that it does not represent the best interests of license-fee payers.
"I do not believe this result promotes the best interest of license fee payers and F1 fans," he wrote in his letter to Ecclestone. "I believe the best result would have been for the rights to remain with a free to air broadcaster, even if this was not the BBC. In particular I am concerned about the apparently divergent views of FOM and the BBC about the sequence of events."
He added: "Sky ended up with much of the broadcasting rights. In explaining this, you have said that the BBC 'held all the cards'. You are reported as saying that the BBC "got to grips with Sky themselves. I spoke with ITV too, and came up with the same problem as Channel 4 had. We had a contract with the BBC which didn't run out until 2014." You also said, "My hands were tied". By your account, the rights ended up with Sky and the BBC because "[T]he BBC brought Sky to us with the idea of a joint contract […] It was not us who made that decision."
"I highlight this point because it directly contradicts the BBC's own account of what happened. Neil Land, Chief Adviser and Business Manager at BBC Sport, states that:
"Ultimately, it is the responsibility of FOM to decide which broadcasters cover the sport. FOM must decide what is in the best interests of the sport, its employees, manufacturers, sponsors and viewers - when choosing its broadcast partners. On this occasion, FOM decided that a broadcast partnership between the BBC and Sky was in the best interests of the sport.
"I am alarmed that there is such a gulf between your stories. This deal has led to disappointment and anger among F1 fans and now they have to sift through completely contradictory accounts of who decided what. The least fans deserve is a clear explanation of what has happened. I urge you to give it."
Both the Daily Mirror and Autosport are reporting that BBC bosses will have to face questions from a parliamentary select committee in order to address claims they blocked rival free-to-air broadcasters bidding for the rights.
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