I know certain members of my household are looking forward to the BBC's Formula One coverage which was announced today.

Does anyone have any idea if the red button services will be available on the Foxsat HDR?

I'm assuming yes as most of the sport seems to be on there already - but does anyone know for sure?

No mention of HD though

Formula One is not produced in HD yet, so it wouldn't be worthwhile showing it on the BBC's HD channel.

They already said there'd be no HD.

Apparently NOT in HD and available on all platforms not just freesat - Freeview, FreesatFromSky and freesat all with interactive "press red button" and on generic FTA receivers although interactive screens will need manual tuning and even on analogue terrestrial (although no interactive).

That's if the sports multiscreen on freesat is working . To put it kindly, it's been somewhat temperamental of late .

One of the BBC blogs had already confirmed there will be no HD this season unfortunately. Good news re red button though - assuming it works!

Just to say that F1 may not be covered in HD in all countries, but for sure the Japanese race is and in Japan BD discs of the annnual roundup of races is. And it is not upscaled SD.

Good news is that Fleetwood Mac return with the theme music.

I'm pretty sure the red services button won't be available to freesat users. The only thing that seems to work at the moment is the sports multiscreen. None of the other BBCi features are available.

I can't see all the stuff they are promising being carried on only the sports multiscreen.

Does anyone know where we can get confirmation of this?

Fuji TV handles the race there and since like 80% of Fuji TV programming is in HD, it be odd not to.

So since some races, even if only one, are HD, the BBC could broadcast them (it) in HD. After all only home 6 Nations matches are HD but we get them in HD and the others in SD. The only excuse might be the uplink costs, but then if they can find the money for international super HD tests then the viewers might reasonably expect some money from the license fee to be spent on programmes. Perhaps Jonathan Ross could contribute as a thank you to viewers.

If there is the same format as with ITV then whom ever does the grid walk needs to buttonhole Bernie and simply ask "When are you going to give us HD at all the races?"
Last edited by germanycalling : 03-03-2009 at 10:59

Bernie and F1 have the "rights" but coverage is by the local rights holder, eg the BBC, and however they cover it and the supplied feeds offered, is surely up to them. Most broadcasters will obtain SD feeds, there may be no other, but if it is covered in HD such as in Japan then if a HD feed is available then the other broadcasters can take advantage. The BBC could, if resources permit (though doubtless every single camera will be at Wimbledon) cover the British GP in HD and supply SD feeds to the rest of the world except Japan who would take it in HD.
If Bernie controlled the coverage then perhaps some of the races wouldn't be covered so badly, er sorry perhaps that's why they are covered so badly. What I mean is consistently, the BBC do them well others do not. Bernie has no say in this, just a contract. Same to whether or not it is in HD. Unless Bernie wants a price premium for HD coverage. So how do the Japanese manage it?

I was under the impression that FOCA TV provided all the coverage, local directors choose which footage to show. There is a HD feed which is available at the circuits, but not to the networks. When the races were shown at various Odeon cinemas last year, they were showing the HD feed.

Do you have a link(*) for that?





(*)There's a joke there

Since technical facilities are very expensive to own and maintain all local event coverage of sports, concerts etc, is usually subcontracted to a specialist "private" organisations. Some broadcast organisations are big enough to support more than one unit (of several vehicles) eg the BBC, but even they often need to subcontract. Their own creative staff will run the coverage though.
Competition being what it is though and with the need to upgrade regularily many facilities will be, at least in the "developed" world, HD capable. This is why Sky can cover so many simultaneous matches in HD.
F1 will subcontract in the same way as it would not be economicaly viable to own facilities and move them around the world fortnightly for a mere 20 or so races, though they may well have financial interests in the facilities companies. With an organisation like the BBC they may well subcontract to them for their facilities. Whatever if HD facilities are available to deprive an area cabable of transmitting them because others are not is nonsense. As always theres them that are really in the know but are not telling us.

BBCi seem to have done a good job and the sport multi-screen is working again .The F1 preview stream is rather good IMHO. Interesting input from the new commentary team of Brundle, Jordan & Coulthard and of course Murray Walker.

The BBC sold its TV Outside Broadcast division in England on April 1 last year.

Ref http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008...bc.television2

BBC One on Friday 27 March

Available on the red button blog

Come on Bernie get your act together and give us HD nay 3d.
This is the most technically advanced sport of the planet.