OCTOBER 6, 2000

Channel 9 bows to pressure as Australians get their wish

Australian television broadcaster Channel 9 have reversed their decision and will now screen the Japanese Grand Prix live after bowing to popular demand - albeit in certain states of the country only.

The terrestrial television channel had planned to screen delayed coverage - up to 10 hours in some states - of the Suzuka race to avoid any disruption with regular programming.

Channel 9 officials had wanted to delay the coverage of the penultimate race of the season to avoid a clash with the prime-time early evening news broadcast but they will now screen the race live in Queensland and Western Australia.

But residents in Melbourne and Sydney will not be provided with live screenings and will have to wait until eight hours after the race to see full coverage.