Speculation that Formula 1 coverage in Britain "could switch from the BBC to ITV increased on Thursday, when respected media publication Broadcast suggested a deal was close to being done," according to Jonathan Noble of MOTORSPORT. The future of the sport on the BBC "has been subject to doubt for several weeks since it emerged last month that the broadcaster was trying to renegotiate its deal." F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that the BBC was "eager to cut its budget -- amid widespread cost cuts -- but faced problems because it still had three years to run on its contract." Ecclestone in November said, "They want to know if they can schedule it different ways or pay a bit less now. They don't have a lot of choice because they've got a contract with us. They're there for another three years." Industry publication Boradcast has suggested, however, that a "deal is close to being struck for the BBC to end its contract early -- with ITV set to step in to replace it." It adds that ITV will "likely cover the sport in a similar way to the BBC -- covering some races live while having delayed highlights from all of them" (MOTORSPORT, 12/17).
