I'm pretty sure that Sky submitted a bid, BT submitted a higher one, then Sky submitted an even higher one & BT didn't go any further. As for BBC only finding out via Ceefax well that was 1995, the world has moved on. I find it amazing that in this modern world where everybody knows what's going on with each other in industries these days that Channel 4 were caught totally unaware, especially given that F1 paddock journos were hinting about it happnening anyway on Twitter.... I mean it's just common sense. I suspect FOM was fed up of broadcasters pulling out of deals early (ITV in 2008, BBC in 2015) & wanted to get future rights sown up more securely. FOM already have an existing relationship with Sky & so its natural that they'd want to continue that relationship, rather than start on a new one with a new broadcaster.




