BBC coverage of F1

[alpine]

While I don't always watch the F1, I often enjoyed ITV's coverage of the F1 so my question is does anyone prefer the BBC coverage?
I liked the ITV coverage because I found it was interesting and detailed and liked the presenters on the show than some of those on the BBC. In the end I'm not that bothered because one of the pundits/commentator is the same and F1 is F1 lol.

[kalniel]

BBC coverage is 100 times better than ITVs IMHO. Red button for split screen views, decent commentators, no adverts, no James Allen, Holly is way better looking than Louise.. what's there not to like?

[ACiD303]

I think if you've not been following F1 for a while, or not a fan in long run, then you're not really going to realise just how much BBC brings to the table. The only thing I can criticise the BBC for is I'm going to take a while to get used to Legard's commentating (not a problem, it's still early doors) and the team need to get used to each other before everything flows naturally.

That, and the fact it's not on BBC HD - of which I wouldn't be able to watch in HD anyway, so it doesn't matter to me.

There are many things to be improved, but these things take time - but for the first race weekend alone, I'm satisfied they've already done a better job than ITV.

In addition to all that Kalniel's said, I'm also glad it's not the Lewis Hamilton show anymore, and I really hope the BBC don't bury their noses in someone elses rear end!

[alpine]

BBC coverage is 100 times better than ITVs IMHO. Red button for split screen views, decent commentators, no adverts, no James Allen, Holly is way better looking than Louise.. what's there not to like?

haha, I didn't actually notice the absence of adverts and never tried the split screen option (what does each screen display?) Agreed Holly is better than Louise.
Yeah the fact it became to predominantly focused on Hamilton did annoy me a bit. In addition, I noticed as you mention one commentator is awful not sure what his name was but I doubt he had any experience of F1 commentating so he can be forgiven

[icanhazburger]

I think the commentator did not do to badly considering it was his 1st race, there were one or two gaff's during qualifying I think. I wish they had it in HD though!

[MadduckUK]

i don't really care about mistakes, that's just getting excited at the goings on. they need to talk amongst themselves more which will come with time

[dave87]

I'd like it even better if it was featured on the BBC HD channel.


SkyHD and one of the main things I want to watch isn't in HD

[MadduckUK]

they are "working on it" last i heard it was still a possibility for just magically starting sometime during the season

[kalniel]

In addition, I noticed as you mention one commentator is awful not sure what his name was but I doubt he had any experience of F1 commentating so he can be forgiven

? Both commentators have huge amounts of experience. Or did you just mean the anchor man? He doesn't have any F1 experience, but I thought did a good job keeping EJ and DC under control.

[MadduckUK]

? Both commentators have huge amounts of experience. Or did you just mean the anchor man? He doesn't have any F1 experience, but I thought did a good job keeping EJ and DC under control.

well i was referring to Legard - Brundle tbh

[kalniel]

well i was referring to Legard - Brundle tbh

Yep, and both of them have years of F1 commentating experience, just not together which, as you say, will improve with time.

[MadduckUK]

which, as you say, will improve with time.

it will and i don't care as long as the racing is this unpredictable, they can talk about the stock market at the moment

[Stoo]

I think it's going to take a little while before they start picking up each other's commentary cues, give it a couple more races and it'll be a lot better, although I preferred the guy who covered the first practice to Legard - he had a really nice banter going on with Holly, and he seemed more knowledgeable than Legard.

Anything's better than James 'the cock' Allen though.

[this_is_gav]

Holly is way better looking than Louise.. what's there not to like?

Indeed, but that's a bit redundant on the radio. Lee McKenzie's not too bad either though.

The general consensus around the web was that EJ and Legard were the weak links. EJ babbled on too long and made a few cringe-worthy remarks (but his general charisma and spark with DC will likely keep him favourable), while Legard still had far too many radioisms and didn't work especially well with Brundle - though both will improve.

I'm not a big fan of the intro - they could have made an epic intro out of archived footage, or even just footage from the past couple of years, similar to the 'inspiration' video posted on Youtube (which is stunning). Too much CGI.

Jake Humphreys was a minor revelation. Few expected him to be even decent, but he held everything together remarkably well (even better than thought if you read his blog after the event) and he did his homework.

Brundle seemed to be a bit more sparky than the past couple of seasons, with a bit more vigour in him.

Finally, the intro to the intro before the race, "this is Formula 1", (the 'advert', which was like a mix between a Marks & Spencer, Guinness and that Honda ad) was awesome.

I don't mind James Allen - some of his books and articles are excellent, as is his blog - but he can't commentate at all. Blundell was even more wooden and dumber than when he was driving, and Steve Rider went from a decent presenter when he used to do the BBC F1 to a puppet who only asked silly questions which already had the answer attached; "so Mark, how important is to Lewis to be on pole?"

[Vimeous]

Two things stood out for me:

1. Jake looked and sounded like he'd be doing it for years. Superb.

2. Sack EJ. I suspected he might be an issue but was shocked just how badly he came across. Why DC didn't turn pugilist I'll never know despite the strained facial expression.
It is rare you see such a sychophant on the Beeb, but the way EJ spoke of F1's own Napoleon you'd be forgiven for thinking he'd only just come up for air, so vigorously he was kissing behind.*
However nothing irritates me more than a bully who barges into questions aimed at others to repeatedly drive home his over-aired point which, combined with his verbal finger pointing and 'I'm right you're all wrong' attitude, made me investigate ITV until someone had finally got a word in edgeways.
I'm used to forthright, self-assured Irishmen and generally I like them. Sychophantic bullyboy camera-hogs drive me potty.


Bring back Jame ... not wait what am I saying!

LOL I've just realised I'd rather have F1's supreme controller passing comment


* Specifically during the early qualifying.

[Behemoth]

I remember when F1 went to ITV 11 years ago, I said it then and I said during the time that ITV had it, F1 belongs on the BBC. What ground my gears with it on ITV was the constant commercial breaks, yet you never got that for a football match on the same channel till half time.

So you get an interesting bit "Now its time for a break"

Glad it's back on BBC where it belongs. I'm sure as the team gets to know one another it will all just mould together, things like this always take time.