German broadcaster wants F1 to improve

RTL, F1’s free-to-air broadcaster in Germany, wants the sport to improve.

We reported last week that, with the traditional market already losing its grand prix in 2015, Germany’s main television host may now also be eyeing the F1 exit.

"It is said that RTL will invest all its energy into football," said the Hamburger Morgenpost.

An RTL spokesman, however, replied that the channel in fact does want to keep F1 on its books, and has begun relevant "talks".

The report said RTL is pushing for a reduction in its annual fee, estimated at a huge $50 million per year.

Writing in Forbes, F1 business journalist Christian Sylt said the RTL deal has traditionally been the sport’s "biggest pay-day" — more lucrative than any relationship with an actual race host.

"This (RTL relationship) alone has generated $1.4 billion in revenue," Sylt claimed.

RTL’s sports director Manfred Loppe has now told the Kolner Express newspaper: "The (F1) series has to be more about the emotional and athletic competition on the track."

In comparison, he says, football is "simple and understandable, because the rules are easy to comprehend".