F1, Sky produce kids Grand Prix broadcast
June 1, 2023
By Colin Mann
Formula 1 and Sky Group will co-produce an F1 broadcast for children at this year’s Formula 1 Qatar Airways Hungarian Grand Prix 2023.
Formula 1 will create a dedicated International Feed, including bespoke graphics, sound effects and special features, including 3D augmented graphics on specific camera angles, that will enhance the broadcast for younger audiences in the UK and Germany.
In the UK, presenters of the Sky Kids show FYI, Braydon and Scarlett, as well as young go-karter Zac, will join F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg and former NASCAR and IndyCar racer Danica Patrick to present F1 Juniors.
Over the course of the race week, the young recruits will try their hand at various broadcasting roles including interviews with their favourite drivers and other big names from the paddock, co-hosting with Natalie Pinkham and the Sky Sports F1 team, and commentating live during the race.
In Germany, Sky Deutschland is holding an open casting call for up-and-coming reporting talent between the ages of 10 and 14 who will be invited to join their Sky Next Generation programme, which using the F1 bespoke feed will also include special editorial content for a younger audience.
“We want to ensure that our fans of all ages can enjoy and fall in love with Formula 1, so working with our long-standing partners at Sky on this project to target younger audiences is really exciting,” commented Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation at Formula 1. “This is a first of its kind in motorsport and I am excited to see the broadcast come to life and to watch the next generation of presenting talent.”
“We are really excited about giving the next generation of F1 fans a platform to show their passion and excitement for the sport as F1 continues to grow in popularity amongst younger audiences,” added Jenson Button, former F1 World Champion and Sky F1 Presenter. “We may just find our next Crofty or Naomi Schiff.”
“With Sky Next Generation, we have done real pioneering work in our football broadcasts and shown that we at Sky are courageous and are also prepared to rethink our broadcasts and go in other directions,” commented Charly Classen, Executive Vice President Sport Sky Deutschland. “The response to the first Sky Next Generation productions from our viewers was overwhelming and so now we’re taking the next step with the first broadcast in Formula 1. I’m sure young motorsport fans will be excited too.”