Formula 1 coverage on ITV
| ITV-F1 | |
|---|---|
ITV F1 Logo 1999–2005
|
|
| Genre | Sports |
| Presented by |
Jim Rosenthal (1997–2005) Steve Rider (2006–2008) |
| Starring |
Louise Goodman (1997-2008) James Allen (1997-2001) Ted Kravitz (2001-2008) |
| Narrated by |
Murray Walker (1997-2001) Martin Brundle (1997-2008) James Allen (2001-2008) |
| Opening theme | "Untitled" by Jamiroquai (1997-1999) "Blackbeat" by Apollo 440 (2000-2002) "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (2003-2005) "Lift Me Up" by Moby (2006-2008) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Location(s) | Worldwide |
| Production company(s) | North One Television |
| Distributor | All3Media |
| Release | |
| Original network |
ITV ITV2 ITV3 ITV4 |
| Picture format |
4:3 (1997–2006) 16:9 (2007–2008) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 8 March 1997 – 2 November 2008 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Grand Prix |
| External links | |
| www.itv.com/formula1 | |
ITV broadcast the coverage of Formula One races in the United Kingdom between 8 March 1997 and 2 November 2008.
ITV gained the rights for Formula One coverage for 1997 in late 1995 from the BBC and focused on more in-depth coverage, conducting more interviews and gaining access to better camera angles. The coverage was initially presented by Jim Rosenthal with veteran commentator Murray Walker and former racing driver Martin Brundle being the initial commentators before Walker's retirement after the 2001 United States Grand Prix and was succeeded by pit-lane reporter James Allen. Rosenthal left in 2005 and was succeeded by Steve Rider who presented the coverage until ITV ceased to broadcast Formula One after 2008. Formula One coverage returned to the BBC in 2009 for ITV to focus on more extensive coverage of UEFA Champions League football matches.
The programme was successful in collecting three consecutive BAFTA awards for sporting coverage but also garnered criticism for showing advertisements during their coverage along with their handling of competitions held by the broadcaster.
In December 2015, ITV was rumoured to take over the broadcasting rights from BBC from 2016 onwards, after BBC had terminated its broadcasting contract three years early. However, on 21 December 2015 it was announced that Channel 4 would broadcast F1 alongside Sky.
When the BBC lost their rights to broadcast Formula One in late 1995, ITV gained the coverage for 1997. The deal worth £60 million was negotiated by FOM president Bernie Ecclestone. ITV chose to bid for the rights due to constantly being beaten at weekends while the Grand Prix coverage was on.
ITV's first broadcast was at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix featuring Jim Rosenthal along with Simon Taylor and Tony Jardine as expert analysts along with Murray Walker and Martin Brundle as the commentators. The pitlane reporters James Allen and Louise Goodman stayed on for the whole of ITV's coverage over 11 years. ITV had set about focusing their efforts into more in-depth pre and post-race analysis, better camera angles and conducting more interviews. Rosenthal, Taylor and Jardine all presented from a studio with a view of the paddock and the studio was transported to all the races. One feature for 1997 was known as 'Inside F1' where a driver would demonstrate a certain piece of equipment on a Formula One car and would summarise what operations the equipment performed along with its effects. There was also a track guide using a computer simulation provided by Psygnosis also for 1997. The post-race qualifying and race coverage was mainly a discussion between the presenter and the experts going over the key facts of what occurred. In the same year, Simon Taylor was left unable to broadcast live after feeling seasick during the Monaco Grand Prix when the team were presenting on a yacht that kept moving around. Sometimes the presenters hosted from the ITV studios for the Asian races due to costs of travelling.
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