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Half of Formula One races to only be available live via pay TV following new Fox Sports deal

Motor racing fans will need a subscription to Fox Sports if they wish to watch all of this year’s Formula One races live. The surprise new five year deal – announced a year before Ten’s current contract was expected to expire – will see Fox Sports as the only places where F1 fans will be able to see all 20 of the races live.

Network Ten will still simulcast ten of the races, with the other ten being shown as highlights the following evening on its secondary channel Eleven. The previous deal saw Ten air all of the races live either on its main channel or on Eleven.

The deal is the latest sign of growing collaboration between Ten and the subscription TV sector. Ten and Foxtel’s Lifestyle Channel are both currently airing new show Gogglebox. Foxtel is also reported to currently be part of a bid to buy Ten. Last year Ten and Foxtel were widely understood to be in talks over a joint advertising sales operation.

Mark WebberThe Australian grand prix, which is protected by the anti-siphoning rules, will remain as one of the races live on Ten. Retired Formula one champion, Mark Webber will commentate on the race in 2015 and 2016.

Under the deal, practice sessions and qualifying sessions will also be broadcast live on Fox Sport.

In a statement Ten CEO Hamish McLennan argued that deal would see better coverage for fan of the sport. “We are also delighted to bring Fox Sports on board as our partner,” he said. “The new deal is a great step forward for Formula 1 in Australia and will ensure bigger and better coverage for motorsport fans.”

Ten’s presenters will be Matt White and commentator Alan Jones.

Fox Sports

Fox Sports CEO Patrick Delany said: “Fox Sports is enormously proud of the partnership with Network Ten across the three motor sport categories in MotoGP, V8 Supercars and now F1. This new partnership means Fox Sports will broadcast Formula 1 how it is meant to be, with every race, every qualifying and every practice live and in high definition, making sure our subscribers won’t miss a second of the action.”

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