Formula 1

Channel 4 and Sky extend partnership to keep F1 free to watch

The deal has been ongoing since 2019 and has now been extended until 2026.

Sky will continue to broadcast live coverage across the practice, qualifying and sprint races, with racing fans being able to head over to Channel 4 to catch the highlights. Both Channel 4 and Sky will air the Grand Prix races live, meaning the biggest events in the racing calendar will continue to be available for free for viewers across Britain.

F1 On Screen | RTS East & RTS Midlands

What is the relationship between Formula 1 and television? How is the "Drive to Survive" effect changing the audience for the sport? And how does commentary and production for F1 work?

Rosanna Tennant of F1 TV fame hosts a panel of Formula 1 broadcasting experts including Ted Kravitz from Sky Sports F1, Dean Locke, Director of Broadcast and Media for F1 and Alex Jacques, Channel 4's F1 commentator.

BBC Sports Personality of the Year to go ahead in 2020

Broadcast live from Media City in Salford, the show will not only celebrate the year’s greatest sporting moments but will also pay homage to the ordinary people and Unsung Heroes using the power of sport to sustain the nation through unprecedented times.

Despite several iconic events in the sporting calendar being cancelled or postponed, 2020 was still a year to remember for many.

TV sport: All to play for

Welcome to the great British summer of no sport. There will be no Wimbledon, no Euro 2020 football, no Open golf and no Olympics, which leaves the sport broadcasters on the canvas.

Punch drunk they may be, but no one is throwing in the towel. The challenge is to fill the hours of telly set aside for sport this summer and to attract the bumper audiences being enjoyed elsewhere on TV during the lockdown.

Live sport has not disappeared entirely – Taiwanese basketball and baseball anyone? – but there is not much of it about.

New Sky and Channel 4 partnership takes shows to wider audience

(Credit: Sky)

The shows included in the deal will be available for customers to binge-watch as much as they desire, beginning with the release of the box-set of the third series of Channel 4 drama No Offence on 13th September.

Live coverage of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix 2019 and highlights of Formula 1 races will be shown on Channel 4 as part of the deal, as well as the first series of the Sky original thriller Tin Star, starring Tim Roth. 

Sky launch virtual reality app

The first version of the app, available for anyone to download for free, showcases a range of 360 videos from Sky and their partners.

Some transport viewers inside popular films, such as Suicide Squad and The Martian, while others invite viewers behind the scenes of iconic sports events such as Formula One and the Tour De France. A Sky News documentary titled Calais: The Jungle, will take viewers to the centre of the refugee crisis.

Sky has also announced two new virtual reality experiences which will become available via the app in the future.

David Coulthard to present Channel 4's Formula 1 coverage

David Coulthard, Formula 1, Whisper Films, Top Gear

The broadcaster has awarded the contract to experienced independent sports production company, Whisper Films, which was founded in 2010 by Coulthard, BT Sport and former BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey and former BBC F1 producer Sunil Patekl.

This announcement follows the news last month that Channel 4 would become the terrestrial TV home of Formula 1 from 2016-2018.

Channel 4 becomes the terrestrial home of Formula One

Malaysian Grand Prix 2010

The BBC has terminated its contract with Formula One in order to help meet the £35 million in savings BBC Sport was asked to make by BBC Director-General Tony Hall.

In a first for a UK terrestrial commercial broadcaster, Channel 4 says no advertising breaks will take place through the duration of live races.

The channel will broadcast ten races per season live, with high definition highlights from all 21 races, including those shows live on Sky Sports F1.