Italian pay-television broadcaster Sky Italia has launched a dedicated Formula One motor-racing channel.
Sky Sport F1 HD will broadcast live all 19 races during the 2013 season, 10 of which will be exclusively live. Sky said it would broadcast 30 hours of live coverage for each of the 19 race weekends, including live broadcasts of practice and qualifying sessions.
Following its interactive multi-screen coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games, Sky will offer viewers nine video options for its Formula One coverage. These will include the main live feed from Sky Sport F1 HD, three on-board views from the cars and a pit lane feed. Sky will also provide a live timing feed, a race tracker service and a race control feature comprising a four-screen channel collating the Sky Sport F1 HD, on board, live timing and race tracker feeds. A race highlights feed will also be offered.
For the first time in Italy, Formula One’s winter test event in Barcelona will be broadcast live in 3D on the Sky 3D channel from February 28 to March 3.
Sky Italia has the rights to Formula One in a three-year deal, from 2013 to 2015.