F1 Races on ESPN Will Be Commercial-Free for 2018

From Road & Track

Thanks to an outcry of complaints from the opening round of the Formula One season in Australia, ESPN has decided to eliminate all commercial breaks from F1 races for the remainder of the season, according to Sports Business Journal reporter Adam Stern.

If you happened to catch the opening round of the Formula One season in Australia on ESPN a few weeks ago, you'll remember the broadcast cut to commercial abruptly, often during critical points of the race and without warning. If you were brave enough to stick around for the Bahrain GP last weekend, chances are you were pleasantly surprised to see there were no commercials at all. This was no accident.

ESPN Executive Vice President Burke Magnus confirmed to Stern that every race for the rest of F1's season will air commercial-free. ESPN won the broadcasting rights for the series back in October, though the network currently syndicates its feed from Sky Sports-meaning ESPN has little ability to alter the feed to suit its commercial needs. This seems like a solution every F1 fan in America can get behind.

via scoob on Oppositelock

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