Sky Sports Creates Dedicated Channel for Formula 1 Coverage

LONDON: Sky Sports F1 HD, a new service launching in March 2012, is dedicated to providing in-depth Formula 1 coverage, including live events from the Grand Prix season.

The dedicated channel will be provided at no extra cost to Sky TV customers who already have Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 or the HD pack of channels. The new destination will feature all practice and qualifying sessions of the Grand Prix season, along with every race in the calender. From March until November, all races will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1 HD commercial-free and in high definition. Over nine months, the channel will broadcast a range of interviews, archive action and weekly magazine shows surrounding F1. Through Sky’s interactive service, viewers can follow F1 action through on-board cameras, go behind the scenes with the teams in the pits and follow race data. Live coverage will also be available on Sky Go at no extra charge.

Barney Francis, the 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 lineup of Formula 1 programs; getting to the drivers, exploring the technology and lapping up the drama.
 
“With a dedicated channel for Formula 1 TM we can also give all sports fans the depth and breadth of sports they demand every weekend, right through the year.”
 
Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s chief executive, added: “This brand new channel again proves Sky’s commitment to investing in the best content for customers.  It will give even more value to Sky customers and create another reason for others to consider pay TV.
 
“This is another example of the value we are creating for customers through our content leadership. It follows the recent launch of other high-quality new channels like Sky Atlantic and Sky 3D as well as our growing commitment to U.K. original content in areas such as drama, comedy and the arts.”