BBC voluntarily – in a cost-cutting maneuver – dropped their UK broadcasting rights to Formula One last week and this week, it was Channel Four which picked up the UK broadcasting pieces to the international motor racing series.
Back in 2012, BBC had signed in a six-year deal to share Formula One racing coverage with Sky Sports in the UK, but facing financial issues, they have decided to bow out of their part of the arrangement three years early.
Channel Four beat out ITV to pick up the three remaining years of the contract for a reported $90 million fee and they will broadcast 10 ad-free [they say] races in the 2016 season.
The 2016 Formula One season officially begins with the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne on March 20, 2016.