Sky Sports to offer F1 in surround sound

Formula One viewers watching digital TV coverage of the competition through Sky Sports' new F1 HD channel will be able to enjoy Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound as part of the experience, after Sky announced plans to make the service available to all viewers.

The pay TV giant plans to launch the channel for the first time on March 9th 2012, one week prior to the start of the Grand Prix season in Melbourne.

It intends to make every Grand Prix available to fans, as well as showing practice and qualifying sessions.

Martin Turner, Sky's executive producer for F1, said the combination of cinematic sound and HD coverage will offer a genuinely immersive experience.

"This is another example of us giving F1 the Sky Sports treatment and I know those that hear the coverage will be amazed by it," added Mr Turner.

The new channel will be free to customers who already have Sky Sports 1 and 2, and to those who have subscribed to the HD channel bundle.