Speed to remain F1′s home in US [and go online a little!]

Speed TV in America and Formula One Management have reached a multi-year deal to keep F1 on the NASCAR/Pinks/Low-Life network, the network announced Monday.

While most of the details are the same — including the provision that four consecutive races will be shown on the Fox Network, which reaches far more homes — the new twist is that Speed has some on-line rights to F1 video.

Here’s the crux of the release:

SPEED and Formula One Management have reached an agreement to extend a relationship that dates back to 1996, the network’s first full season on the air. SPEED will continue to offer its long-running live coverage of the FIA Formula One World Championship, including live coverage of qualifying and practice sessions.

“The global Formula One fan base is one of the most passionate in all of motor sports,” said SPEED President Hunter Nickell. “In America, fans gather at all hours of the morning — with races coming in from places like Malaysia, Singapore and Monaco — to watch SPEED and cheer their favorite drivers and constructors. We look forward to continuing and expanding our relationship with these fans, both on air and through SPEEDtv.com.”

“I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for this new agreement, and I’ve lost track of how many questions I’ve answered from our viewers regarding what the future holds, whether we’ll see much of our colleague Peter Windsor in his new role as a team boss, and so much more,” said Bob Varsha, the longtime SPEED voice of Formula One. “Anyone who was a part of the paddock fun at the old USGP at Indy knows that our fans are smart, loyal and vocal. I look forward to trying to give them what they expect on grand prix weekends for years to come. “

SPEED began covering F1 racing in 1996 with delayed race broadcasts, moving to live coverage in 1997. Beginning in 2010, SPEED also will have on-line clip usage rights from F1.

“We are delighted with the ability to offer Formula One video clips online at SPEEDtv.com” said Kevin Annison, VP Digital & Interactive Media for SPEED. “Acquiring broader Formula One on-line rights was important to SPEED as it is one of the
most popular sections of the site. As the U.S. home to F1, we look forward to marrying these new video rights with SPEEDtv.com’s excellent Formula One coverage, enhancing our article pages, photo galleries, expert commentary and race series editorials every race weekend.”

Four F1 races will air on FOX this season with the SPEED on-air team calling the action. Those four races, which will be consecutive events, have yet to be named.

Varsha already is expecting big things from the 2010 season, which begins March 14 with the Bahrain Grand Prix:

“Every season we think nothing could possibly top the previous one,” Varsha said. “But despite three straight world championships that came down to the final race, followed last year by the unlikely triumph of Jenson Button and Brawn GP, I think 2010 will be even better. We’ll have the biggest field of cars since the ’90s, so knockout qualifying will be crazier than ever. Three new teams, including one from here in the USA, new tracks, new rules, a new points system, no refueling, narrower front tires, the return of the Canadian GP and, we are told, the return of Michael Schumacher! What more can we ask?”

Bob Varsha, who was a terrific guest on an early F1B Downshift, knows how to build excitement. For U.S. fans, Canada being back on the calendar is close to a home race and anything Schumacher is going to drive enthusiasm.

And there’s that USF1 team to think about, too.

F1B is unabashedly pro-Varsha, Steve Matchett and David Hobbs. The trio, broadcasting from a dark room thousands of miles from the race action, does a terrific job of providing a feeling of excitement and lots of perspective. The interplay among them seems to just get better, too.

The online addition, also, will be something to watch. And surely it has to be seen as a good sign, given all the talk in the past few weeks about F1 engaging that “Interweb” thing.