Sky has reached a new broadcasting agreement with the Formula One Management Group to bring a number of changes to their coverage of Formula One. This also means that the Sky broadcasting company will become the sole provider of Formula One race broadcasts in the United Kingdom, as of 2019.
The award winning subscription television channel, Sky Sports F1, was launched in 2012 and has provided live broadcasts of the entire race weekend. The channel is owned by Sky UK Limited, a British telecommunications company that provides television, internet and telephone service to the United Kingdom. In 2015, it was ranked the largest pay-TV broadcaster in the United Kingdom.
Barney Francis, the managing director of Sky Sports, was also happy to have reached an agreement with the sport of Formula One:
“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.”
In their new agreement with the Formula One Management Group, the commercial rights holders of Formula One, Sky Sports was granted the right to be the exclusive provider of live race weekend coverage in the United Kingdom and Ireland. This portion of the agreement becomes active in 2019 and will be legally binding until 2024.
Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of the Formula One Group, was happy to reach a new agreement with United Kingdom broadcasters, saying: “I am delighted that we will continue to work together. Sky’s commitment to the Sport and standard of coverage is second to none.”
The agreement also includes the rights to broadcast every race in Ultra High Definition via Sky Q. This part of the agreement will begin at the start of the 2017 Formula One season. The company will also broadcast the British Grand Prix, race highlights and qualifying sessions on a free-to-air basis.
This confirms the future of Formula One coverage on Channel 4, a British public-service television broadcaster which acquired the rights to broadcast ten of the Formula One races in 2016. The company had assembled a highly regarded team consisting of talented figures in Formula One, including David Coulthard, Mark Webber, Bruno Senna, Alain Prost and the legendary Murray Walker. Sky’s agreement to become the sole Formula One broadcaster in 2019, presumably means that Channel 4’s coverage will not be permitted to continue.
Martin Brundle, a Sky commentator, insists that this new agreement between the sport and Sky will enhance the coverage that is provided, saying: “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.”
