PHILIPRISING

NEITHER is darts in all probability. I have stated on here previously that the reason Sky shifted the GPs to SS4 (other than Cardiff) was that the size of its audience (not necessarily the demographic) attracted better advertising revenue than anything else shown on that particular channel at that particular time.

THERE are probably few sports that are indispensable to Sky, soccer obviously being the major one. From conversations I have had a few things are clear: first and foremost is timing. Had the BSI contract with Sky not expired at the end of the 2012 season we would not be in this position. Those involved with speedway production at Sky are huge advocates of the GP product but the decision has been taken out of their hands. Budgets have been cut and the easy targets were contracts up for renewal, especially for sports that as you say aren't indispensable. The Sky viewing figures for the GPs are considered quite acceptable given that they occupy one of the most difficult slots on the schedule. Events that generally start at 6pm British time face a tough task attracting an audience especially in the summer months. And, of course, anything on Sky Sports on a Saturday evening will be up against some of the most popular family orientated programmes on terrestrial TV.

I AM still optimistic that the GPs will appear on British television even if not on the Sky Sports platform.

IF you had found the time to read many of the other threads on here you would know why Sky will probably not show the GPs this year ...

POPPYCOCK ... the track was terrific, as were many last year. Don't take my word for it ... ask any of the riders.

WILL pass on your suggestions... and if you do go ahead with your tattoo photo inclusion is guaranteed!

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ISN'T that giving him a break ... to show that he has changed?

YOU are on a roll this morning. Nothing to do?

SORRY but wasn't Tai still on Jawas and, frankly, they were simply not good enough, as Kenneth Bjerre found to his cost. Give the boy a break, time will tell soon enough...

WILD card should be announced next week. The three names you mentioned are all in the frame but Bill Buckley's opinion will be crucial in the final reckoning. Don't think your summer weather (hope it lasts until third week in March!) will impact on track. Ole Olsen and his team will arrive early next month and start again from scratch using the materials that were taken up and stored after the 2012 event. Ole thinks he can make it even better which would be quite an achievement.

SEEMS that F1 didn't fare that well on Sky last year either http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2012/09/06/uk-f1-tv-figures-bbc-sky-2012/

SPOKE to Jason Crump after he rode there in a Russian league match last season and he was full of praise for the stadium and the organisation.

CORRECT ... two Aussies, one of whom was Steve Johnson, did the world feed from there while N&K were in the Isleworth studio.

THET have attended all GPS for at least the past two years As pointed out before, Sky actually take the world feed commentary - other than at Cardiff and SWC events - provided by BSI.

FORTUNATELY your opinion about messrs Pearson and Tatum isn't shared by those who make that decision.

DARREN Fletcher only worked on the SWC and Cardiff because Pearson and Tatum were required exclusively for Sky. The world feed commentary at all other events is provided by BSI and usually in the form of Pearson and Tatum/Staechmann.

GARY Patchett was spouting the same line in Speedway Star last week. Surely it makes sense.

IF BSI were to let SKY have the series at a knockdown rate then as sure as night follows day the TV companies in Denmark, Poland and Sweden would expect the same. A GP in Russia remains very much on the table. IMG have an office in Moscow, which helps, but Togliatti is probably more likely than the Russian capital at this moment in time. Humphrey is right, however, that staging events in Russia is a logistical nightmare although I understand it is getting easier as far as visas, etc, is concerned. Ensuring payment is made might be the biggest concern. The next move outside of continental Europe is most likely the USA. Two stadiums - the Veterans in Long Beach which hosted the 1985 and 1988 World Cup finals and the Home Depot, home to LA Galaxy - have been viewed and are suitable although the cost of putting in a track at the latter (which doesn't have a roof and despite the various songs it does rain in sunny Southern California) is significant. However, there are definite signs of a mini-revival in speedway interest in that neck of the woods, Billy Hamill is doing a great job, Bruce Penhall is being approached to provide some PR and the biggest cheese at Monster Energy is a long-time and huge speedway fan.

THE critical factor is that Sky are currently not renewing some contracts that have or are expiring in what they openly admit is a cost-cutting exercise. NOT having the GPs on Sky does not necessarily equate to not having them available to British TV viewers and hopefully that will be the case.

SKY say (privately) that they put the GPs on Sky Sports 4 because it secured a Saturday night audience big enough to attract advertisers who wouldn't otherwise have bothered. Their ad revenue on 1 or 2 was guaranteed whether they showed speedway or not but they needed something on 4 to boost the viewing figures and speedway fitted the bill. There is no doubt that the viewing figures for the GPs suffered as a result but Sky obviously believed they got better value for their money by shoving it on 4. The British GP audience also dipped when the starting time was brought forward to first 5pm and then 6pm. Dedicated speedway fans might tune in at that time on a summer's evening but it was deemed too early for the casual viewers. THERE are plenty of people at Sky who want their speedway coverage to continue but, as has been stated previously, it is just unfortunate that the GP contract came up for renewal at a time when the been counters in Isleworth were holding sway.

SKY have admitted that ANY sport on Sky Sports 4 attracts less viewers than on 1 or 2 and that in fact speedway fared better than any other which in turn helped boost advertising revenue for that particular channel. Make of that what you will...

WHAT from I hear they are not that bothered. They don't do advertising and their thing is a "presence" at the events and seeing their riders on the rostrum, which is why they were so delighted with the 2012 SGP season... all four riders won at least once, one was World Champion and all four contested the final in Torun.

FOX have actually lost the rights to show Premier League soccer in the USA from next season. I am in the US at present and can see more PL matches here than at home, including one of the 3pm Saturday kick-offs. Think NBC have nicked it for 2013-14

GPS will still be shown live in Australia, Denmark, Poland and Sweden with delayed transmissions and highlights packages going to around 100 other outlets. Loss of Sky coverage - still not 100 per cent certain - will undoubtedly be a blow but certainly not a fatal one. BT Vision remain a distinct possibility but they don't start their UK operation until July. I am still optimistic that GPs will be shown in the UK one way or another and I know from a 'phone call made today that negotiations are continuing. Iris123 is quite correct that most riders' sponsorship comes from outside the UK and they would probably be more alarmed if Poland or Denmark were to stop showing speedway but, given their viewing figures, that is most unlikely.