Sky Sports to become exclusive home of F1®
Sky has agreed a new broadcast partnership with Formula One Management, strengthening its position as the home of sport offering unrivalled choice for fans.
The new agreement comprises:
•Exclusive: Sky Sports will be the home of Formula 1® in the UK and Ireland from 2019 to 2024, offering live coverage of every Grand Prix.
•Free to air: The FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX, together with highlights of all other races and Qualifying sessions, will be shown on a ‘free-to-air’ basis.
•Sky Sports Mix: Additionally at least two other ‘prime time’ live races a season will be offered on the soon-to-be-launched Sky Sports Mix along with other F1 content.
•UHD: For the first time every race starting with the 2017 Championship will be shown in the stunning picture quality of Ultra High Definition via Sky Q, the next-generation home entertainment system.
Sky Sports F1® will continue to be the only place to watch each Grand Prix weekend live for the next three seasons in the UK, with 21 races live in 2016 beginning with the 2016 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX last weekend.
The new agreement builds on the success of Sky Sports F1® since the launch of the award-winning channel in 2012. More than 13 million viewers have already enjoyed its live coverage with many more following F1® racing across Sky Sports’ digital outlets.
Bernie Ecclestone, CEO Formula One Group said: “I am delighted that we will continue to work together. Sky’s commitment to the Sport and standard of coverage is second to none.”
Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports said: “This is a brilliant deal that takes Sky’s partnership with F1® to the next level. Since 2012, we have demonstrated unrivalled commitment to F1®, offering fans innovations including a dedicated channel and the very best broadcasting talent. We are delighted that we are strengthening our coverage for viewers even further, with live and exclusive F1® from 2019 and the chance to watch in Ultra High Definition for the first time from next season. We are pleased to support F1® and look forward to working with them to progress, develop and enhance coverage of the Championship during the agreement.”
Martin Brundle, commentator and analyst for Sky Sports F1® added: “I joined Sky Sports because I wanted to be part of a dedicated F1® channel with a total and long term commitment to the sport. And we have certainly delivered on that. In a fast changing media landscape, our coverage will get even better for F1® fans.”
The new deal further strengthens Sky Sports’ position as the home of sport in the UK and Ireland, offering viewers the very best choice across seven channels and award-winning digital outlets. This year, viewers can enjoy more of the best matches from the Premier League, all four golf Majors and the Ryder Cup, England Test cricket and Summer and Autumn International rugby union.
Sky Sports is available in more ways than ever before, including via NOW TV, which offers access to all seven Sky Sports channels for £6.99 for one day or £10.99 for a week pass.
This week Sky announced the launch of Sky Sports Mix, bringing a range of great moments from some of the world’s biggest sporting events to all its TV customers in the UK and Ireland at no extra cost.
Sky Sports began showing live F1® in 2012 and coverage includes every practice and qualifying session together with live coverage of each race. Viewers can enjoy the opinions and analysis from a broadcasting team that boasts three former F1® drivers, including 1996 World Champion Damon Hill together with Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert.
As well as launching a channel dedicated to the sport, Sky Sports F1® became the first broadcaster to introduce touch-screen ‘SkyPad’ analysis from within the paddock, offers fans a multitude of additional viewing options via ‘F1® Race Control’ and offers an extensive schedule of features and support programmes.
Sky Sports won ‘Best TV Broadcaster Award for Outstanding Coverage’ for each of its first two seasons.
For further information, please contact:
Sky Sports
Sky Sports PR
020 7032 1445
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About Sky
Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 21 million customers across five countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.
Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of over £4.9 billion. The group employs 30,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).
Last year Sky Sports became the number one digital destination for sport in the UK for the first time. Online video views increased by approx. 175% totalling just under 300 million by December. On demand usage was also up with 20 million downloads of highlights, magazines and short form programmes.
For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate
The F1 Logo, F1, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One group company. All rights reserved.
About Formula 1®
Formula 1®, which began in 1950, is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition and is the world’s most popular annual sporting series. In 2015 it was watched by over 400 million unique television viewers from over 200 territories. The 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship™ runs from March to November and spans 21 races in 21 countries across five continents. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of the Formula One group, founded by CEO Bernie Ecclestone, and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World Championship™. For more information on Formula 1® visit www.formula1.com.
