12/22/24
April 16, 2006
Is CBS trying for formula one coverage in the U.S. ?: One of America's biggest networks is broadcasting some F1 races in America. Is it a try out, or are they really serious on full coverage? By Mark Gero
When you look at all the nations that cover formula one racing, one channel usually does all the work. In Germany, it is RTL, in France, TF1, or in Great Britain, ITV. In the United States, the main coverage for this sport is Speed Channel, which over the last few years has been operated and owned by Fox, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before all this began, the sport had their telecasts taken by ESPN, and one of the commentators was five times Lemans winner Derek Bell. Then Speed Channel took over, and the trio of Bob Varsha, David Hobbs and Steve Manchett has been bringing many telecasts with their knowledge and know how of the sport that to many viewers, is very entertaining. But last year something changed. One of the most popular US networks, CBS, decided to expand their horizons and take on three races at San Marino, Montreal and Hockenheim. What this was going to achieve was unknown, since the channel was mainly trying to experiment with getting coverage that normally was going to be shown somewhere else (like Speed channel). The coverage of the events were going to be handled by Bell as co anchor, along with Ralph Shaheen, who at that time, was working for guess who? Speed Channel. Considering that the plan went on for the season, many felt that their taped delayed coverage of the three races were decent enough, but unless you do not want to get up early in the morning, especially if you live in the U.S, it was decent just to watch Speed Channel’s race at that same time. But the wrangling never was that way. Speed Channel presented those three races, but at another time. Mainly, one week later. So the boys from New York have won this battle, and whether or not this will work to a full contract is going to happen again this year, as next week, CBS will be showing on air, another taped delay grand Prix at San Marino. It is unknown what other events will be shown along with this grand prix this year, but if CBS wants to show more races, then maybe it should be them that need to apply for next season to cover all the races on the calendar, not just try out for three or a few races. If CBS want to try next season and cover just this amount of races, then it would be wiser to just let Speed Channel take the entire season of races. After all, they have doing it for years. , both live and delayed coverage.
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