Sky will launch a channel entirely dedicated to F1
Our British friends are beginning to have a clearer vision of what awaits them starting next season. Indeed, Sky, which will be the only broadcaster across the Channel to air all the races, has just announced that an entirely dedicated F1 channel will be launched in high definition.
To calm the fury of British viewers who are required to subscribe to Rupert Murdoch’s satellite package to follow the entire season, bSkyb has decided to implement a first: a channel entirely dedicated to a single sport.
This will include comprehensive coverage of all races. British fans will then have the chance to enjoy full and uninterrupted broadcast. This is a necessary trade-off for the monthly subscription fee. However, practice sessions (especially the qualifications) will likely be interspersed with advertisements since the current format allows for it between Q1, Q2, and Q3, without spectators missing any on-track action.
The stated intention of the channel’s executives is to increase the added value compared to BBC’s free television, as explained by Barney Francis, the managing director of Sky Sport: « Formula 1 fans want more, and we want to give them the ultimate experience. It’s not just about every minute of every race but about a channel dedicated to Formula 1. We can now tell the whole story of the season, of each Grand Prix, from start to finish. Formula 1 will receive the full Sky Sport treatment. We have big plans for live broadcasts and very rich programs on drivers, technologies… With a channel dedicated to Formula 1, we can give all sports fans the depth and breadth they demand every weekend of the year. »
To benefit from this complete treatment, it will nevertheless be necessary to shell out 20 pounds per month to access Sky’s basic package, to which you must add the 10.25 pounds to access HD channels. This amounts to around thirty pounds each month to watch, at best, two or three races… Not sure that spectators will be able to forget such an amount in front of Grand Prix as thrilling as Hungary or Valencia…
With the participation of RacingBusiness.fr
