Sky claims live monopoly on ten rounds
The award-winning Sky Sports F1 channel has revealed its schedule for the forthcoming 2014 season, with ten races exclusively live to the UK via the pay-per-view broadcaster.
The channel, which recently won the FIA's 'Best TV Broadcaster Award for Outstanding Coverage' for a second year in succession running, will show every round as it happens, but will share nine events with rival BBC. The division of live is reached via a negotiation process between the two broadcasters, with preferred picks based on a wide variety of factors.
The grands prix to be shown exclusively live on Sky include three of the first four to be run to the all-new technical rules being introduced to F1 in 2014, with only round two, in Malaysia, featuring on both channels. Sky also claims sole control over the live coverage of the races in the USA and Brazil, although the season finale in Abu Dhabi will be shared by both broadcasters.
In all, Australia, Bahrain, China, Monaco, Germany, Hungary, Singapore, USA and Brazil will be exclusive to Sky, as will the returning race in Austria, but the new Russian Grand Prix will appear live on both channels.
"The rule changes mean 2014 is the most eagerly awaited season in years and only on Sky Sports F1 can viewers enjoy the full story live," executive producer Martin Turner said, "From the first corner in Australia to the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, we'll be there offering our viewers unrivalled live coverage and analysis.
"Our ten exclusively live races include several of the season's key grands prix including three of the first four, two of the final three and of course, Monaco, the most glamorous weekend on the calendar. We can't wait."
The BBC includes the British Grand Prix among the nine events it will cover live, with Belgium, Italy and Japan also on the list. The first European race of the year, in Spain, joins Malaysia, Canada, Russia and Abu Dhabi in completing the list.
The terrestrial service, however, will carry live coverage of every race via one of its many platforms, which includes Radio 5 live or 5 live sports extra and the BBC Sport website alongside the television broadcasts. The BBC, which has an agreement to show F1 until 2018, claimed a 1.2m increase in viewership this season, despite not having every race live, suggesting that its highlights packages were proving popular.
"We're very much looking forward to 2014 and feel we have a strong package for our TV coverage," Ben Gallop, BBC head of F1, said, "This format of both live and highlights is attracting a wide range of viewers and we hope to see even more people tuning in next year to experience the magic of F1."
In addition to the full F1 calendar Sky has confirmed that it will continue to carry live coverage of both GP2 and GP3 in 2014.
