Virgin Media has announced that Sky Sports' new Formula 1 channel will be available this March for those subscribed to the Sky Sports package already offered.

Sky Sports F1 is set to be a dedicated racing channel, showing live coverage of every Formula 1 race, practice and qualifying session.

BSkyB upset millions of racing fans in 2011 when it snatched the Formula 1 broadcasting rights away from the BBC in a lucrative six-year deal. As a result, Auntie was forced to halve its coverage and slash production costs.

While World+Dog barked viciously at the new arrangement, die-hard fans of the sport will no doubt stump up the cash regardless, reluctantly piling their pounds into Murdoch's packed pockets.

Those already paying for football broadcasts through their Virgin box will be chuffed at the news, though, as they'll be getting full F1 coverage at no extra cost when the dedicated channel is added to the roster this March. ®

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