- Sat Jul 23, 2005 9:37 am
#186230
Ofcom broadcast bulletin 39
18 July 2005
In Breach
Formula 1 racing – San Marino Grand Prix
ITV1, 24 April 2005, 12:00
126 viewers complained about various aspects of ITV’s coverage of this event and inparticular the advertising break pattern.
The main complaint concerned the placement and length of the final break in the race. The break (lasting 2 minutes 30 seconds) occurred just as the race, by then a close contest between Alonso and Schumacher, was entering its closing stage and finished just before the final lap. The complainants argued that the location of the break and its duration were unacceptable, depriving viewers of live coverage of a vital part of the race and destroying the tension that had built up during the event.
They suggested that the break could (and should) have been placed elsewhere, either within the race or preferably in pre/post race sections of the programme. Many also objected to the perceived differences between coverage of football and F1 in placement and frequency of breaks – likening the positioning of the final race break in this instance to cutting to advertising during a penalty shoot out.
They also complained about other aspects of the coverage and the pattern of advertising breaks. A number criticised the fact that a further break (also of 2 minutes 30 seconds) was taken very shortly after the finish of the race, saying that this simply compounded their impression that the advertising was taking precedence over programme integrity/quality. Others argued that a replay of the ‘missing’ three or so
laps after the race was inadequate compensation for loss of live coverage at a crucial stage and also led to shortened coverage of the press conference, missing the appearance of the British driver Jensen Button. A number asked that the coverage be handed back to the BBC.
We wrote to the broadcaster querying how the coverage complied with its Rules on the Amount and Scheduling of Advertising and in particular Section 6.7(b), dealing with placement of breaks in sports coverage. This rule states that in live coverage of long continuous sporting events, breaks may be taken at points where the focus of coverage shifts from one point to another of the event.
Response
ITV accepted that the final break in the race had been in breach of RASA Section 6.7, having been taken at an inappropriate time. It assured us that it understood the requirements of this rule and took very seriously the need to ensure that the quality of the viewing experience was maintained at the highest standards.
It outlined the steps normally taken to ensure that breaks were taken at appropriate times during the race. The production team were in continual liaison with the teams’ pit crews to determine when drivers were to be called in for pit stops or other planned actions. This communication helped to ensure that breaks were not taken at crucial moments in a race. ITV argued that the San Marino Grand Prix had had an exceptional ending where, for the last 15 minutes, Michael Schumacher was vying to
overtake Fernando Alonso. The production team would normally wait for the outcome of the situation to avoid being in a break at the crucial moment. As the race progressed, the point at which the last race break would normally be taken passed and a judgement call was required. To take a break before the situation was resolved could have resulted in missing the action. With time running out, the decision was eventually made to take the break. In retrospect the break should have been taken
earlier but at the time it had been a difficult call to make.
ITV said that the analogy suggested by viewers between football & motor-racing comparison did not stand in terms of how breaks interrupted the Formula 1 coverage.
The focus during a football match lay with the ball which was the same for the actual spectators at a match. In motor racing, spectators only saw brief glimpses of the action from static positions, whereas the television coverage shows many points of action and follows many different focus points showing, where possible, the most interesting and exciting action. This meant that coverage was switched from one action point to another and any exciting action not seen by viewers, whether due to the taking of a commercial break or from events of interest occurring at the same
time, were always replayed as soon as practical.
The break taken shortly after a race finished was always taken after the last ‘points scoring’ car crossed the finish line but before the drivers got to the podium. The apparent issue in this case had stemmed from the previous break being taken very near the end of the race.
The replay of the last 3 laps had been required to provide viewers with the best coverage possible; the replay of events was an essential part of Formula 1 coverage where action has been missed for whatever reason. On this particular occasion this did reduce the time available for the press conference and post race analysis leaving no time to show the Jensen Button interview.
ITV also added that it undertook extensive research at the start of its coverage of Formula 1 and this had been the established break pattern for the last eight years based on the audience feedback.
Decision
We acknowledge the points made by ITV about its coverage of Formula 1 racing and recognise the problems it had faced in finding an appropriate point for the final race break due to the way the race had developed. We agree that the final race break was in breach of the Rules on the Amount and Scheduling of Advertising, having been taken during an ongoing focus on the battle between the lead drivers, where no natural break point had been present.
The output breached Section 6.7(b) (natural breaks in sports programming) of the Rules on Amount and Scheduling of Advertising
dave benson phillips
), it was the stupid situation that meant 14 cars pulled out that annoyed me.
chrismoyles.net
