Sky confirms F1 will be broadcast in 4K HDR for the first time this weekend

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Sky has announced that it will be upgrading its broadcast of Formula 1 this season to 4K HDR, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend

Formula 1 will be broadcast in 4K HDR this season by Sky
(Image credit: Mercedes AMG F1)

Sky has today confirmed that it is upgrading its broadcast of Formula 1 this season to 4K HDR, starting with all the action from tomorrow’s practice sessions ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) offers higher contrasts between light and dark, more vivid colours and brighter images on the screen, meaning you’ll really be able to scrutinize every detail of those new car designs, missing side pods and liveries under the floodlights in Sakhir.

F1 has been broadcast in 4K on Sky Sports, which has exclusive UK television rights for the next two years since 2017. Last year the broadcaster indicated that it would be carrying out its first HDR (High Dynamic Range) test broadcasts but was cautious about the prospect of it becoming standard in the near future.

In its announcement today, Sky noted that the move marks Sky Sports’ latest step in its ambition to make HDR the new standard. Speaking about the upgrade Jonathan Licht, 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.”

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Mary Stone

Mary is a staff writer at What Hi-Fi? and has over a decade of experience working as a sound engineer mixing live events, music and theatre. Her mixing credits include productions at The National Theatre and in the West End, as well as original musicals composed by Mark Knopfler, Tori Amos, Guy Chambers, Howard Goodall and Dan Gillespie Sells. 

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Bobmode
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    Sky has announced that it will be upgrading its broadcast of Formula 1 this season to 4K HDR, starting with the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend.

    Sky confirms it will broadcast the Formula 1 in 4K HDR for the first time this weekend : Read more
    Very interesting. All this excitement I mean. HDR in a UHD broadcast and from sky too. Anyone would think we would be delighted about this. And we would be too, if it happened 3 or so years ago.
    Why isn’t What hifi asking why it’s taken so long to apply hdr to F1? Why it took so long to apply HDR to its movies and docs only last year? And why it never shows more than one uhd hdr stream at a time? And why uhd is never assigned to any particular channel?

    you notice they apply HD to a channel number of course. But UHD is always attached in the background like it’s an interactive after thought on THE BACK of an HD channel. They only have ONE UHD outlet that’s why. If Eurosport have the Tennis in uhd any football on at the same time won’t get uhd , for example. Or more likely ES only get uhd if there’s no Football on at the same time.

    nobody asks ! No we should all be grateful at this dripping morsel of PQ so proudly spread around on the Sky Q platform. Fact is UHD is an after though at best on sky… and HDR ? Even less so

    shame on you What Hifi ? Take the dollar and blow the consumer. Your mugging us off
    Reply
  • Bobmode
    And btw you’ll see all the surfs from the sky forum magically porting over here after its posted on the closed sky forum section no doubt. Oh no your wrong your wrong we’ve got two or three uhd outlets now. Oh well done Sky! How generous
    Reply