F1 TV takes to big screen with Roku tie-up

F1 TV, Formula 1’s over-the-top streaming service, will be available in a large-screen format after the motor-racing championship agreed a deal with US media company Roku.

F1 TV’s Pro and Access subscription plans are now available in the Roku Channel Store in the US. The Roku roll-out will initially only be available to American F1 fans, who will now be able to access a set of additional features to those already offered by F1 TV on their desktops and mobile devices and watch them on any screen they choose.

F1 TV will allow users to view all sessions of each grand prix live, access all onboard cameras and hear unedited team radios, as well as watch the multi-screen Pit Lane channel.

Fans can also access all the live timing data, more than 800 hours of historical F1 footage and exclusive F1 TV documentaries. Live streaming of F1 TV on Roku devices will commence on February 19, when pre-season testing starts.

Frank Arthofer, director of digital and licensing at Formula 1, said: “Launching F1 TV in the US, with Roku as our first connected TV platform, will enable us to strike the right balance between super-serving fans and testing and learning on a new platform.”

F1 TV on the Roku platform is the latest addition to the service, which is now available on web, iOS and Android in 78 territories. Formula 1 last week announced that this year’s pre-season tests will receive coverage on F1 TV Pro.

The first of six days of pre-season testing will commence in Barcelona on February 19, with this year marking the first time that pre-season tests will be an official F1 event. F1 TV Pro will broadcast testing from 9am (CET) to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm.

After trials in recent years of selected broadcast coverage of testing, the teams have agreed to afford greater access to broadcasters this season. Subscribers to the OTT service will also be able to watch UK pay-television broadcaster Sky’s coverage, as well as the F1 round-up show.