A controversial proposal to use the same commentary feed for the BBC’s radio and television Formula One motor-racing coverage from next year was rejected by the UK public-service broadcaster’s management.
The Guardian reported that the plan, designed to save money due to pressure on the BBC to reduce its spending on sports coverage, was proposed by the broadcaster’s sports department. However, the BBC’s management decided against the proposal and reappointed independent production company USP to produce BBC Radio 5 Live’s Formula One coverage.
The BBC must cut its annual budget by 15 per cent by 2017 due to a government-imposed licence fee freeze. Its sports department’s biggest saving so far has been in renegotiating its deal for Formula One rights so that from 2012 to 2018 it shares live coverage with pay-television broadcaster BSkyB.