Quote:
Formula One is to return to BBC TV after 13 years following ITV's decision to pull out of its deal to air the championship at the end of this season.
A new five-year exclusive deal understood to be worth around £200m across TV, radio, broadband and mobile has been signed between the BBC and Formula One Administration Ltd.
It will run from 2009 to 2013, inclusive, replacing ITV's existing deal, which was due to run until 2010.
The BBC director of sports rights, Dominic Coles, said: "The biggest motorsporting event in the world is returning home after 12 years.
"We were delighted when Bernie Ecclestone approached us about the return of F1 to the BBC.
"F1 is a crown jewel of sports broadcasting, so to bring the rights back to their traditional home from 2009 is tremendously exciting."
An ITV spokesman said: "ITV plc today confirmed that it has decided to exit Formula One at the end of this season.
"This was a straightforward commercial decision for ITV and we're pleased in that Formula One will continue to broadcast free-to-air."
The move has taken many by surprise as attention has been focused on the rights to Champions League football.
One commentator said ITV's decision is likely to have been made for commercial reasons: "With the rise of Lewis Hamilton it is not a surprise to me that the BBC wanted Formula One back.
"Plus, so many races run in off-peak, the BBC can provide the airtime."
After bailing out of Formula One and with its continuing coverage of Champions League football dependent on a bidding war with the BBC, Sky and other broadcasters that could be decided this week, ITV could be left with relatively little major live sports rights.
ITV's sports rights portfolio includes The Boat Race and from August it will take over live coverage of FA Cup and England home internationals from the BBC.
The broadcaster stunned the BBC by landing the live Formula One rights back in the mid-1990s, taking over the coverage for the 1997 season. Previously live Formula One coverage had always been on BBC TV.
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Wooohoooooo
No more stupid ad breaks in the middle of races
