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Begize · 02-04-2009, 20:18

Bernie Ecclestone's company, FOM, produce the TV pictures for most of the races (except a couple - Monaco and Japan I think???). That's why they all have the same graphics etc. It's upto FOM to supply an HD feed and the broadcasters to take it.

Officially Bernie said that they were introducing HD from the end of the 2007 season onwards for some races but so far, only a a handful have been done and they were only for testing and promos. There have been some psuedo HD broadcasts and cinema stuff using upscaled SD pictures. Unofficially it's rumoured that most, if not all the races from the end of the 2007 season onwards have been at least partly shot in HD.

ITV actually used an HD ready satellite service to get broadcasts from the GP's from the start of the 2007 season even though they were not actually receiving an HD feed. The ITV shot stuff (their own interviews etc) was done on HD cameras but broadcast in SD. Was this ready for ITV to take and broadcast an HD feed if / when one became available from FOM? Was it just because the company they used was switching all the technology to HD to make it more future proof? Who knows.

I don't know what the BBC are using technology wise, but they have said they want to take an HD feed if they can, so I assume they must be doing something similar to ITV. Other broadcasters in other countries are also supposed to be "lobbying" for HD feeds too.

It seems then, that the question of "Will we get F1 in HD?" is mainly down to Bernie.

The thing is, FOM tried "enhanced" stuff before - interactive channels, extra views etc on Sky and in Germany but pulled the plug because it was too expensive and no one was prepared to pay extra for it.

Obviously someone has to pay for the HD equipment and you wonder if Bernie decides to pass that cost onto the broadcasters, will they pay?

02-04-2009, 20:18	#8
Begize Inactive Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Stockport Services: XL TV (TiVo 1TB & V HD), XL Broadband (Superhub 2 in modem mode), L Telephone Posts: 477	Re: F1 bbc hd? Bernie Ecclestone's company, FOM, produce the TV pictures for most of the races (except a couple - Monaco and Japan I think???). That's why they all have the same graphics etc. It's upto FOM to supply an HD feed and the broadcasters to take it. Officially Bernie said that they were introducing HD from the end of the 2007 season onwards for some races but so far, only a a handful have been done and they were only for testing and promos. There have been some psuedo HD broadcasts and cinema stuff using upscaled SD pictures. Unofficially it's rumoured that most, if not all the races from the end of the 2007 season onwards have been at least partly shot in HD. ITV actually used an HD ready satellite service to get broadcasts from the GP's from the start of the 2007 season even though they were not actually receiving an HD feed. The ITV shot stuff (their own interviews etc) was done on HD cameras but broadcast in SD. Was this ready for ITV to take and broadcast an HD feed if / when one became available from FOM? Was it just because the company they used was switching all the technology to HD to make it more future proof? Who knows. I don't know what the BBC are using technology wise, but they have said they want to take an HD feed if they can, so I assume they must be doing something similar to ITV. Other broadcasters in other countries are also supposed to be "lobbying" for HD feeds too. It seems then, that the question of "Will we get F1 in HD?" is mainly down to Bernie. The thing is, FOM tried "enhanced" stuff before - interactive channels, extra views etc on Sky and in Germany but pulled the plug because it was too expensive and no one was prepared to pay extra for it. Obviously someone has to pay for the HD equipment and you wonder if Bernie decides to pass that cost onto the broadcasters, will they pay?