Formula 1 Events

UK terrestrial ITV has signed an online rights deal with Formula 1 Management ahead of the racing season’s first green light in Australia this weekend.

[SB decode wk 2 fri] The acquisition makes ITV’s website the online home of Formula 1 in the UK, supporting the broadcast coverage on ITV1 and offering exclusive interactive features and news, as well as post-race highlights.

As part of the deal, ITV will stream live simulcasts of the races on its website, along with video clips of previously neglected action including the Friday practice, not currently broadcast on any channel in the UK.

Mark Sharman, ITV’s director of news and sport, said: "We know from listening to our viewers that there is great demand from motor sport fans to watch F1 practice sessions and press conferences.

"This is yet another example of how we are using ITV’s digital channels and new media platforms to extend our award-winning coverage of sport to complement the big events on ITV1."

Exclusive post-race highlights will include interviews and features hosted by the ITV presenters Steve Rider, Martin Brundle, Mark Blundell and James Allen, and clips from the post-event press conferences with the drivers.

The service will also offer a 30-day catch-up service of ITV1’s F1 coverage.

The success of new UK competitor Lewis Hamilton in the 2007 season drove ITV’s F1 viewing figures to their highest volume since 2001, with almost 11 million watching live when he narrowly missed out on clinching the world title in Brazil.