Live from Silverstone: Formula 1 broadcast production facts and figures

At each event on the Formula 1 calendar, the broadcast and media operation is divided between the on-site Event Technical Centre (ETC) and the Remote Technical Centre (RTC) at Biggin Hill in the UK.

The ETC, which is deployed onsite at every race event, acquires content, data and feeds which are sent back to the RTC where the world feed is produced.

Here are some of the key facts and figures about each race:

🏁 Coverage is broadcast in more than 170 territories worldwide

🏁 Most events use around 25 track cameras, rising to 27 at circuits such as Singapore. This includes two Super-Slo-Motion cameras, three pit wall cameras and five RF Pit Cameras. There is also a selection of ‘special’ unmanned cameras mounted on bridges, in kerbs, on armco and bollards plus two Ultra-Slo-Motion cameras (FOR-A and SONY 4800) and five remotely controlled pan and tilt heads

🏁 Most events also see the use of a Giro Stabilised Heli-cam

🏁 Every race deploys over 90 cameras on cars, with up to five cameras per car; forwards and rear from the roll hoop, a face view camera, a helmet camera, as well as an additional camera either on the side of the chassis or nose. All cars also carry a non-live 360-degree camera for extra content

🏁 The on-car 360-degree cameras collect </>480GB of footage from the raceand at least 72GB of footage from qualifying, as well as special interest drivers for P1, P2 and P3

🏁 68 bespoke microphones are fitted on cars across F1, F2, F3 and Porsche, and also to the FIA’s cars, supplying high-quality stereo audio to the production from every car

🏁 F1 Insight provides broadcasters with footage not included in the International Feed. Content to illustrate talking points of the sessions and race, utilising graphics, telestration, 3d CGIand other tools. Footage from the event filmed around the weekend will also be uploaded. Pre-prepared packages will be available prior to the weekend focusing on interesting characteristics of the forthcoming race

🏁 Fan TV is produced for giant screen distribution around the circuit, including Giant Screen graphics output while F1 also co-produces esports broadcasts

🏁 Nine channels of individual onboard camera feeds can be provided to broadcasters

🏁 F1 produces over 430 hours of live TV over the season and over 205 hours of post-produced content including global news packages, promos, documentaries and features for TV broadcast

🏁 F1 has a range of digital productsincluding F1 TV (global OTT platform), F1.com and the Official F1 App (news, results, championship standings, live timing). F1.com and Official F1 App saw 4.9 bn video views, 1.3bn page views, 70.5M unique users across digital properties in 2020.

🏁 To produce the International Feed in Dolby Surround 5.1, up to 147 microphones and 10km (6.5 miles) of audio cable are rigged around the track

Read more Live from Silverstone: F1 director of innovation Pete Samara on getting closer to the action