Sky Sports and Sky Sport to show F1 coverage in high dynamic range

UK and German coverage to benefit from whiter whites and blacker blacks

Sky Sports in the UK and Sky Sport in Germany will show coverage of this season’s Formula 1 motor racing Championship in high dynamic range (HDR) for the first time, it has been announced.

The addition to the UHD output will provide viewers with a greater difference between the brightest and darkest parts of an image during all races and selected qualifying sessions.

Jonathan Licht, the managing director of Sky Sports, said: “We are pleased to bring the 2022 Formula 1 season to life in a way fans won’t have experienced before. The stunning picture quality offered through HDR will make viewing the new Formula 1 season even more exciting and impactful than ever.

The broadcaster is describing HDR as bringing “brighter, sharper and bolder imagery”, claiming that it will result in a “true-to-life picture for every moment of suspense, every emotion and every podium this season.”

“This is the latest in a long line of innovations in F1’s production that allow us to bring racing to fans in new and engaging ways and we can’t wait to see it in action.”

Ian Holmes, director of media rights and content creation at Formula 1 added: “As we enter an exciting new era of Formula 1, it is fantastic that fans will now get to experience the 2022 season, and enjoy Sky Sports’ extensive Formula 1 coverage, in HDR. This is the latest in a long line of innovations in F1’s production that allow us to bring racing to fans in new and engaging ways and we can’t wait to see it in action.”

F1 director of broadcast Dean Locke told viewers of SVG Europe’s Motorsport Show 2021 about the introduction of HDR to the host coverage in July 2021: Find out more.

Sky Sports F1 team for the new season will include Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Naomi Schiff, Ted Kravitz, Natalie Pinkham, David Croft and Simon Lazenby.

Sky Germany revealed that “all races and selected qualifying sessions are also available in ultra-sharp Ultra HD HDR image quality. In addition, Sky will double the number of live hours in UHD and will in future broadcast selected race weekends completely in the best UHD picture quality.”

The new F1 season starts on Friday 18 March in Bahrain.