Formula One: Murdoch deal is ‘close to zero’ chance

LONDON: Rupert Murdoch has a ‘close to zero’ chance of buying Formula One and talk of a takeover is being driven by the media and advisers seeking to make money, the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone said.

“It’s media driven,” said Ecclestone.  “It looks very much like someone who is trying to see if they can make money.” Analysts have also pointed out that the big manufacturers and advertisers traditionally want the sport to be shown on free-to-air channels as they draw the biggest possible audience, as opposed to Murdoch’s paid-for TV channels such as BSkyB in Britain or Sky Italia in Europe.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2011.