Sky flaunts F1 app with split-screen functions
Four-way action
Sky conveyed details of its Formula 1 coverage today, including news of an F1 app with four-way multiscreen functionality.
The dedicated iPad app will accompany the launch of the Sky Sports F1 HD channel, set to roll out ahead of the season's opening race on 18 March, T3 reports.
Of course, that all depends on submitting the app through Apple and Sky remains coy on whether or not it'll roll out in time for the first checkered flag.
Either way, the app is most-definitely inbound and will join Sky's plethora of iOS offerings such as SkyGo, Sky Movies and Sky Sports News.
Sky Race Control, as the umbrella of coverage is known as, aims to replicate the F1 broadcasts across all platforms. The splitscreen functionality certainly raises eyebrows, watching races from multiple perspectives simultaneously.
It might not be enough to silence a population reeling from Sky's acquisition of the sport, but at least the company has taken measures to give the package some bang for the buck.
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.
Those already paying for Sky Sports packages will get full F1 coverage at no extra cost when the dedicated channel is added to rosters this March. ®
COMMENTS
Dead to me
F1 is dead to me. I regained interest with the Beebs excellent coverage but screw it, I'm not giving money to the dirty digger and neither do I want to see only half the races.
2 people here ex F1 fans, me 40+ years and another 25 years...
We're gone.. The toxic mixture of Gollumj and Rupie are too much to bother with, and I know a number of others who have already decided that this season marks their first NOT following the sport due to this carve up.
Part of the spectacle is no use... all of those who tamely fall in line will only have themselves to blame when F1 finally goes "all pay"
Id love to see all concerned take a bath on finance and audience but sadly the modern fanbase lacks enough backbone to stick it to Sky and Bernie... you reap what you sow people.. this year is pretty much a freebie if you have Sky HD, but the long game will see this become a premium offering costing lots of your hard earned - bend over Kiddies... Bernie is holding the lube for Unkie Rupert....
Or you can watch RTL online
Just like to add to that: if you don't even want to fork out for a satellite dish you can watch RTL live online for qualifying and the race. Of course it's in German, but Radio 5 Live is broadcasting live commentary for every race, so use one tab for video, one for sound in your browser. I tested it last year and it worked fine, though obviously I switched back to TV once I knew it was all working. I'll have no other option in 2012 for half the races - RTL it is.
Re: Dead to me
Ditto.
Can't be arsed with half the races, and I refuse to pay several £hundred a year to the Dirty Digger for the privilege of seeing the others.
Still fuming over the underhand way the BBC, FIA and BSkyB arranged this deal. It's also particularly galling that those that do watch on Sky still have to pay the sodding BBC (via the TV licence tax) for the races that are shown exclusively on Sky.
You don't need Sky Sports...
...just the HD pack which is a little bit more bearable at a tenner a month for F1 in high definition (yes I know before someone points it out).
