Grapevine: Digital Coverage Set to be Axed

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is to pull the plug on his F1 Digital+ service for next season after it proved to be unsuccessful among the fans, according to reports in the British press.

Ecclestone said earlier this month that the pay-per-view idea, which was launched at the end of the 1990s, was a failure.

"I still don't understand why people won't pay what has been asked of them," Ecclestone told The Guardian newspaper earlier in November. "I just cannot understand it. It's not just the UK, it's worldwide.

"It's quite incredible that pay doesn't work. It is a much, much better show, no commercials, no interruption - but even when things aren't on other channels they won't pay."

The ambitious and expensive project requires two jumbo jets to travel to all Grands Prix in order to carry the massive amount of equipment needed for the broadcasting. The service was offered in some European countries including Germany, France and the UK.

Viewers of the digital service could see live, uninterrupted coverage on race days, with a range of views, statistics and behind-the-scenes coverage. Reportedly, Ecclestone is now planning to use part of the equipment from the digital broadcasting to offer a better terrestrial coverage in the 2003 season.