Digital TV News

Sky to launch dedicated Formula 1 racing channel

Monday 28 November, 2011

By Anthony Hill

Satellite giant promises “ultimate F1 experience”.

Britain’s biggest pay-TV broadcaster is about to get even bigger.

Sky is launching a brand new channel, taking Formula 1 fans closer to the racing action than ever.

From March 2012, the dedicated Sky Sports F1 HD channel will offer in-depth coverage - with tons of live races, analysis and information - to keep audiences gripped throughout the season.

Sky Sports F1 HD will give viewers every live moment - including practice and qualifying sessions for each Grand Prix - in high-definition (HD) and without the interruption of adverts.

Through Sky’s interactive service, fans will be able to join the action themselves, with on-board cameras, behind-the-scenes reports with the teams in the pits and unrivalled race data getting right under the skin of Formula 1.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “Formula 1 followers are hungry for more and we want to give them the ultimate experience. It’s not just every minute of every race, but a channel devoted to Formula 1.”

He continued: “We can now tell the whole story of the season, from every Grand Prix, from start to finish. Formula 1 will get the full Sky Sports treatment - we have big plans for live shows and a rich line-up of programmes.”

The launch of Sky Sports F1 HD follows the recent arrivals of other premium channels, like Sky Atlantic and Sky 3D, as part of the satellite provider’s commitment to original content.

Sky’s chief executive, Jeremy Darroch, added: “Sky Sports F1 HD will give even more value to Sky customers and create another reason for others to consider pay-TV.”

Last week, rival TV provider Virgin Media announced that it too would be adding a new sports channel to its line-up.

Available to Virgin Media customers from 1 December, at a cost of £10 a month, BoxNation is the first dedicated subscription boxing channel of its kind.