BSkyB Secures F1 Interactive Deal

BSkyB has secured a deal with Formula One Management which will see it offer Sky Digital subscribers pay-per-view access to interactive coverage of the F1 Grand Prix.

Subscribers to the premium service will be able to access extended coverage of the races and qualifying sessions for the 2002 and 2003 seasons, including the ability to choose different camera angles and call up information such as comparative lap times.

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One Management, said: “We are excited that F1 can now offer British viewers such radically different coverage. Now, alongside traditional race broadcasts, we can offer truly interactive coverage of Grand Prix weekends.”

Sky claimed recently that over 50% of its digital subscribers have used its interactive services over the last year. According to the satellite operator, more than 7 million people have gone interactive since January 2001, with 86% of Sky Sports subscribers interacting with Sky Sports Active (see 50% Of Sky Digital Subscribers Go Interactive).

ITV holds the free-to-air rights to Formula One and announced in October that Toyota is to sponsor its coverage of the event for the next four years in a deal worth more than £25m (see Toyota To Sponsor ITV1’s F1 Coverage).

BSkyB: 020 7705 3000 www.sky.com

Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive