» SKY announces F1 broadcast plans

SKY Sports has today announced it will launch a dedicated channel for its F1 coverage when it takes over the full broadcasting rights of the series from the BBC. After the marketing team was up all night thinking of a name, it will be called Sky Sports F1.

The channel will provide complete, commercial-free coverage of the entire Grand Prix season, including all practice and qualifying sessions.

Fans will also have a wealth of interactive functions at the fingertips, including on-board camera viewing, pit cameras and in-race data.

The dedicated channel will be provided at no further cost to all SKY customers who have both Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 or the HD pack of channels. Those without the HD pack will have access to standard-definition viewing.

Details of its commentary line-up have not yet been made public, although BBC lead commentator Martin Brundle is widely expected to be among a selection of high-profile signings, which is also expected to include acclaimed Radio 5 Live commentator David Croft.

With SKY sharing its broadcast rights with the BBC, the government-funded network has also confirmed that it will broadcast ten of the season’s races live, and offer the remainder as delayed highlights specials.

Its first live race will be the third round of the 2012 season in China, followed by live coverage of the Spanish, Monaco, European, British, Belgian, Singapore, Korean, Abu Dhabi and Brazilian Grands Prix.

Coincidentally, SKY’s Latin American arm has teamed up with Red Bull Racing once again to sponsor the Milton Keynes team for this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

Its logos will appear on the dominant RB7’s bargeboards, as well as on Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber’s racing overalls.

“We’re delighted to be partners with Red Bull Racing for the second time at the Brazilian Grand Prix,” SKY Brazil’s CEO Luiz Eduardo Baptista da Roha said.

“We hope to have a successful result and an excellent race.”

[Image via LAT]