Digital TV News

Sky Sports F1 made available to Virgin Media customers

Tuesday 17 January, 2012

By Duncan Heaney

Virgin Media and Sky get revved up for season start in March.

Virgin Media has announced that Sky’s new dedicated Formula 1 channel, Sky Sports F1, will be available to its customers as part of its Sky Sports package.

Many F1 fans were shocked last year when Sky revealed it had won the broadcasting rights for F1 away from the BBC, in a six-year deal. The BBC didn’t lose the season in its entirely, but it will only show 10 races, and production costs have been cut right down.

Not content with taking rights to the sport, late last year Sky revealed it had also pinched a large chunk of the BBC’s F1 pundits, including Martin Brundle, and pit-lane reporters Ted Kravitz and Natalie Pinkham.

Race meetings will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, along with extensive analysis and features. Sky is also developing interactive services for the channel, though the specifics are yet to be revealed.

Sky Sports F1 is set to launch in March, just in time for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. It will be added automatically to Virgin Media’s Sky Sports package, alongside Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Sports 3 and Sky Sports 4, so if you already subscribe to that package, there’s nothing extra you need to do to access the F1 coverage.

Cindy Rose, executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer this new channel right from the off as it’s certain to be an exciting Formula 1 season with a record number of races and six former or current world champions racing for the title.”

The 2012 season also has some new tracks and key rule changes. Many fans hope these will lead to a less predictable season than 2011, which saw Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel cruise to victory in 11 of 19 races.

Sky’s own customers can also enjoy the new channel, with every race shown in high-definition on Sky Sports F1 HD. Coverage will include all the practice and qualifying sessions, without the interruption of adverts.