ITV say Sorry

[Tony]

ITV has accepted responsibility for the late advertisement break during yesterday's live coverage of the San Marino Grand Prix.

ITV is contracted to run a set number of advert sequences during the broadcast and delayed the final one in the hope of being able to show Michael Schumacher catching and passing Fernando Alonso.

Eventually time ran out and the ad break was run early enough to ensure that the last lap was shown live.

"None of us are happy but it was unavoidable," said the programme's executive producer Neil Duncanson of the subsequent criticism.

"We are contracted to advertisers who pay top dollar and this plays an important part in keeping Formula 1 on terrestrial television.

"We delayed the final break because we gambled Michael would catch and overtake Fernando before the end."

A press spokesman for ITV sport, Mark Whittle, explained that there is no specific plan for when advert breaks should be shown, and that ITV tries to ensure that they are placed at the least sensitive moments during the race.

“There is no scientific method to it – we try to put them in at the least contentious point of the race,” he said.

“We took a break with three laps to go just as Michael Schumacher was battling with Fernando Alonso and we came back before the final lap. There had been no change in position.

“We endeavour to show viewers any action they have missed."

ITV-F1's anchorman Jim Rosenthal introduced a segment immediately after the race has finished showing the final three laps uninterrupted.

But he admitted the situation had not been ideal.

“Nobody feels worse about this than I do,” he said. “I can only sympathise with all the people who have got in touch

From here

[Gandalph]

Fair enough. As long as they don't do it again. :(

[andsome]

IT IS NOT FAIR ENOUGH. Why is it that rubbish like soap operas NEVER loose out? Last night the first episode of coronation Street over ran by several minutes. I was waiting to see the next programme. No one interrupted that load of rubbish, to put adverts on just before the end. Whenever an extra programme is slipped in for one reason or another, the soap operas are always shown at a later time the same day, in full. For pity's sake why could the adverts not have been delayed for a further few minutes? I like the little bit about doing it to keep F1 on terrestrial TV, what a load of rubbish, they have NO interest in F1 or anything else, only bottom line profit.

[doug]

Whoops my friend, and it's only 07:30

[andsome]

Whoops my friend, and it's only 07:30

I admit to having a bee in my bonnet about all the mindless crap on TV.

[CurlyWhirly]

I have to say that I agree with your comments andsome

[andsome]

ITV has accepted responsibility for the late advertisement break during yesterday's live coverage of the San Marino Grand Prix.

ITV is contracted to run a set number of advert sequences during the broadcast and delayed the final one in the hope of being able to show Michael Schumacher catching and passing Fernando Alonso.

Eventually time ran out and the ad break was run early enough to ensure that the last lap was shown live.

"None of us are happy but it was unavoidable," said the programme's executive producer Neil Duncanson of the subsequent criticism.

"We are contracted to advertisers who pay top dollar and this plays an important part in keeping Formula 1 on terrestrial television.

"We delayed the final break because we gambled Michael would catch and overtake Fernando before the end."

A press spokesman for ITV sport, Mark Whittle, explained that there is no specific plan for when advert breaks should be shown, and that ITV tries to ensure that they are placed at the least sensitive moments during the race.

“There is no scientific method to it – we try to put them in at the least contentious point of the race,” he said.

“We took a break with three laps to go just as Michael Schumacher was battling with Fernando Alonso and we came back before the final lap. There had been no change in position.

“We endeavour to show viewers any action they have missed."

ITV-F1's anchorman Jim Rosenthal introduced a segment immediately after the race has finished showing the final three laps uninterrupted.

But he admitted the situation had not been ideal.

“Nobody feels worse about this than I do,” he said. “I can only sympathise with all the people who have got in touch

From here

I have received this answer back to my e-mail. I have written again and asked why soap operas are not treated in the same fashion if they run late.

[CurlyWhirly]

I have received this answer back to my e-mail.  I have written again and asked why soap operas are not treated in the same fashion if they run late.

I am awaiting their reply with baited breath, I wonder what the answer will be?

Only time will tell.

[andsome]

I have received this answer back to my e-mail.  I have written again and asked why soap operas are not treated in the same fashion if they run late.

I am awaiting their reply with baited breath, I wonder what the answer will be?

Only time will tell.

If they bother to answer the follow up.