Formula 1 2013 Season

[Perdita]

Suzi Perry has been announced as the new presenter of the BBC's Formula 1 coverage.

Perry - who previously presented the BBC's MotoGP coverage for 10 years, and has reported on other sports for the network and co-hosted Channel 5's The Gadget Show - is due to begin her stint with live coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix on April 14, 2013.


© PA Images / Lewis Whyld/PA Archive


"Motorsport is my life and I've really missed being away from the grid," said Perry, who is replacing former CBBC and Olympics presenter Jake Humphrey in the role.

"I am so excited to be joining the BBC," she added. "Working alongside such an eminent team and the F1 world is a huge honour and I can't wait to get started."

Others who were rumoured to have been in line for the position were pitlane reporter Lee McKenzie and BBC Radio 5 Live's Mark Pougatch.


BBC Head of F1 Ben Gallop said that he believed Perry would "bring real energy and years of experience to one of the biggest jobs in sports broadcasting".

"Her presenting ability, coupled with her love and knowledge of motorsport, make her an excellent addition," he explained.

"I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Jake Humphrey for his enormous contribution to the coverage over the last four years and we all wish him the best for the future."

The BBC also confirmed that it has obtained the rights to broadcast ten races - including the British, Belgian, Italian and Brazilian Grands Prix - live on terrestrial television.

The corporation - which now shares F1 rights with Sky Sports - plans to screen extended television highlights of the 2013 Monte Carlo event and nine other races that are not part of its live TV package.

All 20 races will be covered live on BBC Radio 5 Live or 5 Live Sports Extra and will be accompanied by text commentary on the BBC Sport website.

The full list of Formula 1 races to be broadcast live on BBC television is as follows:
China, April 14

Spain, May 12

Canada, June 9

Silverstone, June 30

TBA, July 21

Belgium, August 25

Italy, September 8

Japan, October 13

India, October 27

Brazil, November 24


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/...#ixzz2Fnvnx9TC

[Perdita]

Sky has confirmed plans to broadcast its first ever live Formula One in 3D ahead of the 2013 season.

Viewers will be able to watch the third test session from the Circuit de Catalunya on Sky 3D, as Sky experiments with 3D coverage of the sport.

All four days of the session from February 28 to March 3 will be shown on Sky 3D, as well as simulcast in standard and high definition on Sky Sports F1.

Sky's F1 commentator Martin Brundle said: "This is a special moment for Formula 1 fans and exactly the kind of innovation and access that Sky Sports F1 promised.

"3D will show us the real challenges of the race track with added depth and perspective. It will be a new, immersive experience for viewers and I can't wait to see what F1 action in 3D will reveal."

Sky Sports F1 executive producer Martin Turner said that the 3D broadcast will be "ground-breaking".

"We're as excited as the next fan to see what Formula 1 will look like in 3D. It's uncharted territory, but this is a big opportunity to experiment and innovate, and we're grateful to Formula One Management for working with us on this," he said.

"Sky is a world-leader in the field of 3D broadcasting, so in partnership with Formula 1 we're in the best position to answer public appetite and take up the challenge of bringing live F1 in 3D for the first time."

Sky describes the broadcast as "one-off 3D coverage" and has not indicated whether it could be extended to a full practice, qualifying or race session in the 2013 season.

However, Sky prides itself on being at the forefront of 3D sports production and F1 becomes the 14th sport that it has broadcast in 3D.

Sky's director of 3D John Cassy said: "[3D has] proved a huge success with other sports, and now for the first time ever, 3D will bring TV viewers a new perspective on Formula 1.

"This cements our commitment to innovation and investment in 3D, and it's the latest first by Sky following our recent work on Galapagos with Sir David Attenborough. As the leading 3D pioneer, Sky is delighted to be able to bring this entirely new experience to Sky 3D viewers and F1 fans."