BATHURST 1000 TO BE AUSTRALIAN FIRST 4K SPORT TELECAST

Bathurst 1000 to be broadcast in 4K - Photo: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Date posted: 19 September 2018

Bathurst 1000 to be broadcast in 4K – Photo: InSyde Media

NEXT MONTH’S Bathurst 1000 will be the first Australian sporting event to be broadcast in ultra-high definition, beating cricket to 4K’s local debut.

By MARK FOGARTY

The Great Race will be shown on Foxtel’s new dedicated 4K channel on October 7, giving Supercars bragging rights as the pioneer of live coverage in the highest available resolution.

While only a limited number of viewers will be able to watch the Mount Panorama classic in 4K, it is a significant broadcast technical development for the future.

The upscaled Bathurst 1000 telecast will be available to Foxtel subscribers with the Sports HD pack and above – as long as they also have a TV and connection compatible with the pay network’s new 4K service.

Also known as Ultra HD, 4K TV’s Australian-first sports telecast has been brought forward by a month at the initiative of Supercars’ broadcasting boss Nathan Prendergast.

The maiden 4K sporting event was originally scheduled to be the opening Australia versus South Africa one day international cricket match on November 4.

It was to have been the showcase of the start of Fox Sports’ new Australian cricket broadcasting deal, but now Supercars and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will launch the pay network’s 4K sports coverage.

Following trials at the last two rounds, Supercars’ broadcasting division will use 30 Ultra HD cameras to follow the main trackside action around the iconic 6.21 km hillside circuit.

The new high-tech equipment will be the core of the total 125 cameras to be used across Fox Sports’ Supercars-produced coverage of the Bathurst 1000.

In addition to Fox Sport’s four-day HD coverage on channel 506, which becomes a 24-hour Bathurst channel from October 1, a replay of the Top 10 Shootout and then the race live will be shown on Foxtel’s new dedicated 4K service on channel 444.

Fox Sport’s race telecast will be ad break-free for the first time.

The Australian-first live 4K broadcast of the race was announced at a pre-Bathurst 1000 media event back-dropped by Sydney Harbour this morning.

“We are proud to be able to deliver the Bathurst coverage through this innovative partnership with Foxtel to bring the best technology available in the world right now,” Supercars chief executive officer Sean Seamer said.

“With the support of Foxtel and Fox Sport, we have trialled the cameras at the last two Supercars events and as recently as the Sandown 500 on the weekend. The pictures are extraordinary.

“Supercars is a sport of colour, sound and movement. The cars, the action, the colour and the event will be captured like never before in 4K. We couldn’t be any more excited.”

Supercars broadcast supremo Nathan Prendergast noted that the production of one of the world’s largest outside broadcasts in HD and 4K from a regional location was a world-class undertaking.

“Supercars has the best people in broadcast and this incredible team is excited at the challenge of delivering award-winning coverage in HD and 4K,” Prendergast said.

Foxtel chief executive officer Patrick Delaney explained why Fox Sport’s 4K debut was advanced to the Bathurst 1000.

“When we announced Foxtel in 4K a month ago, we and Supercars challenged ourselves to bring it to life as soon as possible, and after an incredible amount of work, we are delighted to pull forward the launch by a month and bring Australians Bathurst like never before,” Delaney said.
“It’s fitting that we will ring in a new era in Australian television with an event as big and iconic as the action at Mount Panorama.”

While an exciting and significant technical broadcast achievement for Supercars, the crystal-clear coverage will have a limited audience because it can only be seen on 4K- or Ultra HD-compatible TVs connected to Foxtel’s new iQ4 set-top box.

A further limitation is that the iQ4 and 4K channel access are only available to customers with the latest satellite service, which is replacing Foxtel’s cable connections.

Subscribers with 4K televisions with a satellite subscription to Foxtel’s Sports HD pack and above can access the coverage via an iQ4 set-top box, which would be needed to be ordered quickly to get delivery in time for Bathurst.

Those yet to upgrade to the technology will still see the race – and all the lead-up action from Thursday, October 4 – in full HD on Fox Sports Channel 506.

For more of the latest national motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of Auto Action, on sale now. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.

Auto Action 1911

Search Auto Action

CONNECT

Recent Stories

array (
  0 => 
  WP_Term::__set_state(array(
     'term_id' => 11,
     'name' => 'Latest News',
     'slug' => 'latest-news',
     'term_group' => 0,
     'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
     'taxonomy' => 'category',
     'description' => '',
     'parent' => 0,
     'count' => 16877,
     'filter' => 'raw',
     'cat_ID' => 11,
     'category_count' => 16877,
     'category_description' => '',
     'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
     'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
     'category_parent' => 0,
  )),
  1 => 
  WP_Term::__set_state(array(
     'term_id' => 38,
     'name' => 'Supercars',
     'slug' => 'supercars',
     'term_group' => 0,
     'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
     'taxonomy' => 'category',
     'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.

Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.

The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.

The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
     'parent' => 0,
     'count' => 5671,
     'filter' => 'raw',
     'cat_ID' => 38,
     'category_count' => 5671,
     'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.

Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.

The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.

The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
     'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
     'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
     'category_parent' => 0,
  )),
)

BATHURST 1000 TO BE AUSTRALIAN FIRST 4K SPORT TELECAST

Recent Stories

Bulls bash in co-driver practice

Whincup steals co-driver contest

2026 Supercars Silly Season, who is where and what is next

Dalton nails first-ever Super2 Shootout