Some interesting/"interesting" comments from Bernie as per Autosport article:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report...qualifying-fix
Quote:
“"We've lost a television audience, like all sports have, including football.
"So while we've lost an audience one way, actually more people are viewing F1 now than ever before on their phones and tablets.
"So there is more interest than there was before, which is what we have to take advantage of, and which is what we are doing."”
Is he saying a net gain of viewers? Can't get my head round if that makes any sense or not (and indeed if it's plausible or not from that method).
Quote:
“Only recently Ecclestone signed a new six-year deal with Sky Sports to run from 2019 through to 2024, and understood to be worth around £1billion.
While many have bemoaned the loss of free-to-air F1, Ecclestone has defended the decision.
"They're going to get to more people than you would believe. They're going to get to 25 million people with the type of broadcast they are planning," said Ecclestone.”
25 million...what? 25 million viewers a season? A theoretical reach of 25 million per race if everyone who could potentially view it actually viewed it even if the actual number of people who viewed it was a fraction of that? A massive spike of 25 million viewers for the one race that everyone can see without paying for it? No idea.
Quote:
“"Honestly, it was nothing to do with the money, it was to do with the fact this is the way we have to move forward."”
This is the way we have to move forward because that's where the money is. How can it otherwise be?