Pay-television operator Fox Sports is set to assume exclusive live rights to all races from the Formula One motor racing series in Australia from 2016, according to reports.
The Speedcafe.com website said that under a new Australian rights deal, Fox Sports will broadcast all races live, while commercial broadcaster Ten will show half of the events.
Reports have suggested that such an arrangement could be brought in for the forthcoming 2015 season, but the Financial Review newspaper said the new contract will commence in 2016, following the end of the current rights period.
The proposed agreement with Fox and Ten will mirror that of F1’s rights models in the UK and Italian markets. Pay-television broadcaster Sky and public-service broadcaster the BBC currently hold rights in the UK, while pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia and state broadcaster Rai cover F1 in Italy.
Although not always live, the complete schedule of Formula One races has been shown on free-to-air television in Australia since the early 1980s. The new rights deal is understood to be awaiting sign-off from Formula One Management.