[sceptic]

Originally posted by Fred

I agree that the TOCA TV deal is the way forward for the single seater series and would also agree that it would be best if they were all done by one company. Mind, if they were all on the same bill, they probably would be? If they could sell it to Grandstand that would be best because it wouldn't get shunted into the wee hours then?

You're just dreaming now. There is probaly a case for F3 to be shown in a better time slot (than 7am on Saturday) on terrestrial TV, but Formula Renualt, Formula Ford and Formula BMW are never going to be big enough to get regular network coverage anywhere but night time.

It can't be beyond the capacity of the various championship organisers/promoters to stump up funding for the TV coverage surely ?

I would not be at all surprised if Renault and BMW weren't paying a substantial amount of money for the TV deal they currently have.

I don't think they would see any advantage in paying more money to get a daytime slot.

offered it to the Beeb at cost it would be to their advantage. With respect to Motors TV you are already preaching to the converted and its the casual viewer that you want to hook.

As with the early touring car coverage, I would suggest that a pre recorded presentation is best until the viewers start to get used to it. That may go against the purists who want to see live action but you've got to get them attracted and interested first and, if we are honest, there are a lot of races you've watched that you would liked to have edited ?

There is room for both. Those who want to see it live (or as live) should be able to do so on a specialist channel such as Motors.

Terrestrial TV will bring in more viewers, even at 2am, but the 250,000 who watch Formula Renault on Motorsport UK (and let's face it, most of them probably don't stay up - they video it!) probably represents close to the maximum audience the series would attract at any time of day.

I was looking at the Italian F Renault series on Italia racing, they've got nearly 40 cars competing in the championship ! the photos suggest that there is lots of sponsorship available over there. Why is Italian single seaters so succesful, in an economy that is not at its best, when UK single seaters struggle for funds, in an economy that has been out of recession for 8 years? What are they, and other countries, doing that the UK is not ?

Italian F Renault may be strong, but the F3 series is weak, and there is no F Ford or F BMW there at the moment, so effectively it is the only place for drivers to go when they graduate from karts.

In the UK there are too many championships.