<I>ITV</I>: A contract is a contract.
British Formula One broadcaster ITV has apologised to fans for cutting to an advertisement break with just three laps of the San Marino Grand Prix to run - but insisted that its hands were tied.
Speaking after the station had been bombarded by calls from angry viewers, who were forced to sit and bite their fingernails while Fernando Alonso's battle with Michael Schumacher was replaced by commercials, ITV admitted that it was as frustrated as anyone, but that it had obligations to its advertisers.
British Formula One broadcaster ITV has apologised to fans for cutting to an advertisement break with just three laps of the San Marino Grand Prix to run - but insisted that its hands were tied.
Speaking after the station had been bombarded by calls from angry viewers, who were forced to sit and bite their fingernails while Fernando Alonso's battle with Michael Schumacher was replaced by commercials, ITV admitted that it was as frustrated as anyone, but that it had obligations to its advertisers.
"They are the people that keep things like Formula One on television," a spokesman insisted, "We had to go to a break - a contract is a contract - but, believe me, we were as disappointed as any one of our viewers."
The broadcaster also came under fire for not showing Jenson Button's contribution to the post-race press conference, despite the race providing the British driver's first points of the season. Instead, ITV cut back to its presenters, who proceeded to plug upcoming football coverage on the channel...
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