Speed TV loses F1 broadcast rights
http://tinyurl.com/99ujcbr
Quote:
The cable sports channel Speed will no longer air Formula One races after this season, ending a 17- year partnership.
Fox Sports Media Group, which owns Speed, confirmed Friday that the partnership will end after this season. The network indicated it was outbid for the U.S. broadcast rights.
"It's disappointing to learn that F1 has elected to move forward with a different media partner," Fox Sports Media Group said in a statement to The Associated Press.
F1 was in talks with NBC Sports Group for U.S. broadcast rights, according to two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement....
It's not clear what NBC Sports would do with F1.
Given the track record, I don't see this bringing any improvement in the quality of the broadcasts. Adding this to the Grand Am/ALMS deal, and I'd have to say NASCAR owns motorsport in North America now.
On paper, I bet "network coverage" of the sport + two races in the US looks like a win to someone, though.