Advanced Television

Foxtel to show Bathurst in 4K

September 19, 2018

By Colin Mann

Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel will create Australian television history by broadcasting the nation’s iconic motor race, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Supercars in 4K ultra high definition.

After intensive testing at the RABBLE.club Sandown 500 over the weekend of September 15th-16th, Foxtel is now ready to show key events of the Bathurst Supercars weekend, including a Sunday replay of the Top Ten Shootout immediately before a live broadcast of Sunday’s main event, both in 4K and, for the first time ever, with no ad breaks during racing.

“When we announced Foxtel in 4K a month ago we challenged ourselves to bring it to life as soon as possible and after an incredible amount of work we are delighted to bring Australians Bathurst like never before,” commented Patrick Delany, Foxtel CEO.

“We did a full test at Sandown last week and the pictures leapt off the screen in 4K, it was amazing – we are ready to go for Bathurst. It’s fitting that we will ring in a new era in Australian television with an event as big as the action at Mount Panorama.”

“The Foxtel 4K channel is included in the price of our HD offering for sports subscribers and above, and adds even more value for our HD customers,” advised Delany. “They just need to upgrade to the iQ4 set top box. With time running short, it’s important to book now so that you have the iQ4 ready to go for summer.”

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said 4K would revolutionise coverage of the Great Race. “Supercars is a sport of colour, sound and movement,” he said. “The cars, the action, excitement and the colour of this iconic Australian event will be captured like never before. We couldn’t be any more excited.”

Foxtel’s new, dedicated, 4K live channel will launch on October 3rd on channel 444 and comes as part of a Foxtel Platinum HD or Foxtel Sports HD subscription for customers with an iQ4.

4K coverage of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 can be seen on Foxtel’s newly launched 4K channel 444. The 4K action will rev into gear on Sunday, October 7 with a replay of the Top Ten Shootout that will decide which Supercars driver will start on pole position, followed immediately after with the Supercars Great Race over 161 laps (1000km) live and in 4K.

For complete coverage, Foxtel subscribers will also be able to watch the live action of the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, including the live Top Ten Shootout as well as every practice and qualifying session, uninterrupted, in HD on FOX SPORTS 506.

From launch, Foxtel 4K will showcase a host of 4K content including movies, documentaries, concerts and live sport, starting with select events from Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. Over the next 12 months, Foxtel will continue to expand the selection of unique 4K content for subscribers, including the Australian 4K debut of live Cricket, which kicks off with the November 4th, Australia v. South Africa, as part of the Gillette ODI Series.

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