The BBC is reportedly to offer full reruns of the Formula One races that it does not show live next year, in a move to placate fans angry at the loss of coverage on free-to-air television.
According to reports, the races will be made available on-demand on the BBC Red Button service around three hours after they have ended, and at the same time as a highlights package airs on a BBC channel.
If the reports are correct, the move would give some concession to Formula One fans upset at the deal to share the TV rights between the BBC and Sky from 2012, meaning half of each season's races will only be available live on pay-TV.
Under the deal, Sky will show all 20 Grand Prix races next year, while the BBC will only offer half that number, despite that including the key events such as Silverstone and Monaco.
Fans have swamped the online message boards and forums to complain about the deal, particularly as Channel 4 is understood to have come in with a rival bid that would have kept the sport entirely on free TV.
A BBC spokesperson refused to be drawn on the report, but did say that the corporation would provide details of its revised F1 coverage for next year in due course.
Why is the BBC doing deals with arch-rivals Sky in any case?
