Editing Bernie Ecclestone (section)

=== Other activities ===
In 1996, Ecclestone's [[International Sportsworld Communicators]] signed a 14-year agreement with the FIA for the exclusive broadcasting rights for 18 FIA championships. In 1999, the [[European Commission]] investigated FIA, ISC and [[Formula One Administration|FOA]] for abusing dominant position and restricting competition.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/business/brussels-accuses-f1-motor-racing-of-abusing-its-dominant-position-1.201398 Brussels accuses F1 motor racing of abusing its dominant position] - The Irish Times, 30 June 1999</ref>  As a result, in early 2000 the ISC and FIA made a new agreement to reduce the number of rights packages to two, the World Rally and Regional Rally Championships. In April 2000 Ecclestone sold ISC to a group led by [[David Richards (racing)|David Richards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns02389.html |title=Richards gets rallying |date=17 April 2000 |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher = Inside F1, Inc.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.crash.net/f1/news/35642/1/ecclestone-sells-rally-rights|title=Ecclestone sells rally rights|date=11 April 2000|publisher=Crash|access-date=13 April 2020}}</ref>

On 17 June 2005, Ecclestone made American headlines with his reply to a question about [[Danica Patrick]]'s fourth-place finish at the [[Indianapolis 500]], during an interview with Indianapolis television station WRTV:  "She did a good job, didn't she? Super. Didn't think she'd be able to make it like that. You know, I've got one of these wonderful ideas that women should be all dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances." Following Patrick's 2008 victory at Twin Ring Motegi, Ecclestone personally sent her a congratulatory letter.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Pete |last=McEntegart |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/pete_mcentegart/06/20/ten.spot/index.html |title=The 10 Spot: 20 June 2005 |date=20 June 2005 |access-date=1 March 2008 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |quote=6. Formula One's planned invasion of the U.S. market will have to wait a few years... |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829121719/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/pete_mcentegart/06/20/ten.spot/index.html |archive-date=29 August 2005 }}</ref>

On 7 January 2010, it was announced that Ecclestone had, together with [[Genii Capital]], submitted a bid for Swedish car brand [[Saab Automobile]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saabsunited.com/2010/01/genii-team-up-with-bernie-ecclestone-to-bid-for-saab-automobile.html|title=Genii team up with Bernie Ecclestone to bid for Saab Automobile|date=8 January 2010|access-date=8 January 2010|publisher=Saabs United|archive-date=10 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110225104/http://www.saabsunited.com/2010/01/genii-team-up-with-bernie-ecclestone-to-bid-for-saab-automobile.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>