Ecclestone plans TV revolution

Television viewing figures have fallen this season in the midst of Ferrari's domination of the sport, prompting Ecclestone to table an idea at last weekend's Italian Grand Prix that could radically improve the show for the average TV viewer.

The plan, if approved by F1's teams, would allow terrestrial channels, such as Britain's ITV, access to the blanket coverage, extra on-board footage and behind-the-scenes interviews that until now has been reserved exclusively for the sport's pay-per-view digital footage.

It is hoped that the improved coverage will lure back the sport's casual viewer, and ITV's F1 anchorman, Jim Rosenthal, believes access to better pictures will help the station in its bid to attract a larger audience.

"Over the six seasons that we have been covering F1, there have been frustrations where things have been seen on the digital service and terrestrial viewers have missed them," he said. "If this new plan improves the product, no-one at ITV will complain."

The proposed changes could lead to terrestrial stations being given access to the main digital feed. Viewers wanting to use interactive facilities, including timing screens, a choice of on-board cameras and an instant highlights channel, would have to use the pay-per-view service.

Get this week's AUTOSPORT, which goes on sale on Thursday, to find out:

How ITV's figures have dropped off this year
What Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug makes of the proposals
How Ecclestone acknowledges that the internet has changed people's viewing habits