Ecclestone refuses to confirm BBC stops with F1

Bernie Ecclestone is refusing to confirm that F1's free-to-air British broadcaster is pulling out of the sport. British newspapers this week said the BBC has now decided to stop broadcasting F1 with immediate effect due to cost cuts, despite an ongoing contract.

The reports also said the BBC would be replaced by ITV, to take over the role of sharing Britain's coverage with the pay channel Sky. But F1 supremo Ecclestone said: "The bottom line is that they (BBC) are cutting back on all types of sport and if we really, really, really had to, we'd say 'You have got a contract and you better get on with it'."

"They can't leave the contract early," he told publications including the Daily Mail. As for whether ITV can simply take over the BBC's deal, Ecclestone answered: "To do that we would have to agree to have that done so I don't know." (GMM)