Formula One to air in HD for the first time
Frustrated Australian TV fans unable to watch most free to air sport in high definition will at least get Formula One this year, Network Ten has announced.
The motor racing season will again be shown on Ten’s digital sports channel One.
The HD announcement comes after F1 said it would be providing race coverage in HD globally.
However, HD channel availability is patchy in Australia thanks to the roll out of the new digital channels.
Errr, wasn’t Formula one in HD last year? It certainly was on One HD all year. Are you indicating the broadcast wasn’t HD quality, despite that?
Hi Franksting,
Correct – although it was on One HD, it was broadcast in SD. There hasn’t previously been an HD feed available globally: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/.....-feed.html
Cheers,
Tim
FOCA and Ecclestone were among the pioneers of multi-channel digital TV around the start of the decade.Despite a huge investment in staff and facilities the service never reached it’s full potential due to the ability of broadcasters to manage the feed and the high cost of dedicated subscription. http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/71770
Great, now we can watch Webber and Vettel collide in glorious 1080i.
Here’s hoping we get the full BBC program as well not just the commentary. Oh and that they use an ounce of common sense before going to an ad break.
Are there any indications when Foxtel Satellite will (ever?) get One (SD/HD)? Makes the middle of the night races a lot easier to watch from the IQ2 in the morning. I can’t understand how channels can be available on cable but not Satellite, isn’t it the same licensing agreement?
Hey Trevor, asked the same thing myself. But you’ll find there’s no 7mate, no 9GEM and no OneHD for satellite homes likely to happen. The reason I am always told is Foxtel want a mint from the FTAs for the bandwidth (? doubt that’s the right term, but you’ll get what I mean) and given the low revenues that come from these stations, it’s hardly worth it.
Great news. Only HD content on One HD seems to be strange American programming.
@Trevor – it’s about Sat channel capacity I suspect – HD takes up to 4 times the bandwidth of an SD channel.
Excellent. How many rounds will we enjoy until Packer/Murdoch decide to pull the plug?
Thanks Tim. Just in time for the new owners to shut down One HD and replace it with more neighbours…or perhaps I’m being too cynical!
Trevor, Foxtel charges the channels to be on its service. The amount they charge be on HD Satellite with most people still without a IQ2 (needed for HD) isn’t worth it.
Thanks for the replies guys sorry to go off topic here. If it was about bandwidth they could just have the SD version though? And @Charlie if they charge to be on its service how is cable viable for FTA providers but satellite not? Wouldn’t it be one agreement?
I’ve written to the FTA networks before about it but never had a reply, it just means anything that isn’t on Foxtel doesn’t make my radar as I use the planner and IQ2 to skip the ads. F1 excluded as I make the effort to look it up.
A few Japanese Grand Prix were filmed in HD by Fuji television but was not broadcast Internationally. Similarly, the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. All were non-FOM world feed cameras, so we never got to see them (unless you were in Japan or UAE).
They did a HD test during Friday practice in Hockenheim 2003 to showcase HD – picture quality was amazing.
Can’t wait for the HD content this year. Coupled with the new BBC commentary team of Brundle and Coulthard, will be great! Now if they only showed practice, instead of trying to find a stream…
If only 10 would get rid of their moronic Australian commentators who ruin the broadcast and let us watch the BBC’s F1 professionals in peace. And broadcast practice. I’ll continue to watch the BBC F1 coverage via torrents…
@Trevor, nope to different agreements 1 for Cable and 1 for Sat…