FEBRUARY 19, 2001

Channel 4 lands rally deal

THE British Broadcasting Corporation may have recently landed the radio rights to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship but it has been outbid for the World Rally Championship by rival station Channel Four.

THE British Broadcasting Corporation may have recently landed the radio rights to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship but it has been outbid for the World Rally Championship by rival station Channel Four. Rallying is very popular in Britain thanks to the involvement of Colin McRae and Richard Burns and Channel 4 was keen to secure the three-year deal which runs until the end of 2005.

The BBC is now thought likely to have a serious look at bidding for the TV rights to Formula 1. These are currently held by another rival ITV although that deal is expected to run out at the end of 2002.