[michael21]

Channel 4 planned primetime coverage and a raft of new programming as part of an estimated £45m bid for Formula 1 rights, it has emerged.

The public service broadcaster is understood to have bid £45m a year for the sport. The pitch for the sport, included a ten-point plan (see below), emphasising the benefits of free-to-air coverage.

The plan included more primetime exposure and re-runs, with “no ‘red button’ hideaways – by showing the sport through traditional linear broadcasting.

The pitch highlighted the commercial opportunities for teams “through sponsorship and ad-funded content. Free from BBC constraints.”

C4 also planned to create a wide range of related content to be shown along with the sport. Documentaries, entertainment, the history of the sport using archive footage and factual programming focussing on engineering and mechanics were all mooted types of programming.

Education and cross-platform content also formed part of the plan. C4 bid for the sport as a means to attract a younger male audience and is understood to be talking to a range of sporting bodies.

Despite C4’s bid, BBC and Sky have agreed a seven-year deal starting in 2012 that will see the broadcasters sharing the rights.

CHANNEL 4: F1 PLAN

More extensive coverage across our networks than ever before.

More live hours of racing free-to-air, no pay-wall.

http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/b...030824.article

More prime time exposure, more re-runs and no ‘red button’ hideaways.

More commercial opportunities for teams through sponsorship and ad-funded content. Free from BBC constraints.

Unparallel marketing and cross-promotion.

A greater range of original programmes from documentary to entertainment.

More historical coverage of F1 with extended use of archive.

High impact factual programmes focussing on engineering and mechanics.

More cross-platform content and converged innovation.

Major educational outreach with F1 academy projects.