22/11/02: Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed he will pull the plug on the sport's pay-per-view television coverage as he bids to arrest a slump in terrestrial viewing figures.

Last season was the first chance British viewers got to see the improved coverage - with Germany and France already enjoying the digital service - but the deal with Sky has been ended so Ecclestone can give free-to-air broadcasters a better service.

Ecclestone publicly criticised the coverage on offer to terrestrial viewers last season and will now provide better pictures in a bid to stop viewers reaching for the off button after a season of crushing Ferrari dominance.

The Formula One Management chief executive said: "We have told all of our broadcast partners that FOM will no longer offer a separate digital pay-per-view service.

"Over the last six years we have developed very sophisticated outside broadcast facilities and we now intend to focus these resources on providing the best live feed to our free-to-air broadcasters."