The first F1 race at Abu Dhabi may also be the first broadcast in HD

vectra

F1 may finally be broadcast in true HD for the first time ever later this year.

Discussions are under way about broadcasting the 2009 F1 season finale - the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - in high definition.

This could be a useful boost for F1’s high-profile end-of-season event at the ambitious new Yas Marina venue. Jenson Button’s increasing lead in the championship makes it less likely the season will culminate in a down-to-the-wire contest as it has for the last three years.

Formula 1’s uptake of high definition has been painfully slow. Rival championships like A1 Grand Prix have had the technology for some time and NASCAR has been broadcasting in HD since 2005. Last year NASCAR was even available in HD in Britain where it is very much a minority sport.

BBC F1 reporter Lee Mckenzie mentioned on Twitter revealed this year that the hold-up on HD is at FOM’s end: broadcasters like BBC are ready to roll with HD coverage, but FOM aren’t supplying a high definition feed. “I think maybe 2010 [they will] though” she added.

As someone who bought a high definition TV a few months ago in the belief that F1 could not possibly go much longer without catching up with the rest of the broadcasting world, this is good (if long overdue) news!

amacachi

It would be about damn time.

vectra

amacachi wrote: »

It would be about damn time.

I know
I honestly thought it was going to hit us this season,
I went and bought a full HD lcd and a HD sat receiver specially for this. ( even though the wife thinks i bought it for her to watch HD movies

Charlie-Bravo

I see the Porsche Super Cup on this weekend is in HD on Eurosport HD. Surely that the race is at the same venue as F1 (Nurburgring), that they use all the same camera equipment etc, why the hell don't they just get on with it and fully broadcast all events during the weekend in HD?!

amacachi

astrofluff wrote: »

I see the Porsche Super Cup on this weekend is in HD on Eurosport HD. Surely that the race is at the same venue as F1 (Nurburgring), that they use all the same camera equipment etc, why the hell don't they just get on with it and fully broadcast all events during the weekend in HD?!

Just to play devil's advocate here, are you sure it was shot in HD rather than just being upscaled?

EvilMonkey

astrofluff wrote: »

I see the Porsche Super Cup on this weekend is in HD on Eurosport HD. Surely that the race is at the same venue as F1 (Nurburgring), that they use all the same camera equipment etc, why the hell don't they just get on with it and fully broadcast all events during the weekend in HD?!

Money

vectra

Would Eurosport use the same equipment as BBC ??

amacachi

vectra wrote: »

Would Eurosport use the same equipment as BBC ??

Think he meant the track's cameras are HD, which in turn are used by the production team of the series (FOM) which is then passed on. IF the cameras are HD then FOM are just being silly in not passing the HD signal along, but as I said I wouldn't be surprised if Eurosport are just upscaling a HD signal.

Charlie-Bravo

I don;t have Eurosport HD so wouldn't be able to tell you. Maybe someone else reading this that has Eurosport HD (and would be able to tell the difference), could check it tomorrow morning?