UK to get dedicated Sky Sports Formula 1 Channel in 2012

Sky Sports F1 HD - a dedicated F1 Channel for the UK

News Corporation has revealed that the UK will get a new dedicated Sky Sports Channel just for Formula 1 (F1) starting March 2012.

It’s not exactly a huge surprise that Sky Sports is launching a new F1 Channel in 2012, perfectly timed to coincide with Sky’s takeover of Formula 1 Coverage from the BBC.

The F1 HD Channel (as far as we know it will only be on HD – another reason to upgrade to Sky HD if you haven’t yet) intends churning out F1 content 365 days a year. Which may be easy enough during the F1 season, although it does make you wonder how they’ll fill the other three months of the year.

Perhaps the Sky coverage of F1 on the new channel will provide the BBC with a bit of a bonus as Sky seeks to license old F1 content from the Beeb to fill the downtime?

It’s a real shame the BBC has lost F1, but budget constraints can be blamed. They will still get to show certain key races of the year (at the same time as Sky) but only Sky will get to show every race and every qualifying.

The big plus is that Sky has already signed up Martin Brundle as commentator and grid stalker, so much of what’s good at the BBC is already heading to Sky. Frankly, they should also sign Jake Humphrey – he’s proved to be a surprise asset to the BBC’s F1 coverage.

All of which makes the Sky Sports coverage of F1 in 2012 quite an appealing prospect.

By Cars UK