Formula 1 said yesterday it launched F1 TV Pro in India ahead of the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

The digital platform will broadcast all race weekends, including practice and qualifying sessions, F1 Sprint events and Grand Prix.

Fans can subscribe to F1 TV Pro for Rs. 399 ($3.99) a month or Rs. 2,999 ($29.99) annually. Fans who sign up to the service early in the season will also benefit from a free seven-day trial for a limited time only, the world governing body said in a statement yesterday.

Till the official launch of F1 TV in India, fans used to watch the action on Star Sports, while the broadcaster’s OTT platform Disney+Hotstar streamed the races.

“With access to live telemetry, all 20 driver onboard cameras and team radio channels, as well as in-depth pre- and post-race analysis and an extensive content library containing thousands of hours of archive footage of the sport’s most iconic moments, fans can become totally immersed in the drama and excitement of F1,” the statement said.

F1 TV Pro offers fans the opportunity to follow the FIA Formula 1 Championship closer than ever.

Starting with the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5, year 2023 will feature a 23-race schedule across five continents, including the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix and the inaugural Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Fans in India will also be able to tune-in to the Porsche Supercup series and FIA Formula 2 and 3 sessions and races. Fans can follow the progress of Formula 2 drivers Jehan Daruvala and Kush Maini as they vie for the F2 crown and look to make the step up to Formula 1.

Ian Holmes, Director of Media Rights and Content Creation at Formula 1, in a statement said, “We are delighted to launch F1 TV Pro for our fans in India. With Formula 1’s growing global footprint, it is vital that our fans all around the world can watch and enjoy the drama and excitement of Formula 1.

“With access to live race footage, expert commentary, onboard camera and team radios, F1 TV Pro will provide fans with a best-in-class service to follow the upcoming Formula 1 season.”

Meanwhile, while talking to Reuters, Holmes said, “India is a connected market, it’s a sophisticated market, it’s a very strong mobile market.

“In terms of familiarity with digital rights content being through non-traditional channels and platforms, that exists in India, so that was attractive to us.”

He further told Reuters that they had “talked to Star and one or two other more traditional platforms and we felt that they didn’t value our rights in the way that we did”.

“We may seek to do a more sort of traditional linear type deal in due course, but we’re very comfortable and confident with F1 TV. There are a lot of very knowledgeable and passionate fans in India,” he explained.

However, what Indianbroadcastingworld.com feels is that with the Indian broadcasting advertising codes frowning down on direct or surrogate liquor brands’ advertising on TV or digital platforms, how F1 will handle some of the branded racing tourneys is still to be seen.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued several advisories, including one recently, which directed TV channels to follow advertising codes and not air  liquor or tobacco products’ ads.

Law firm Bharucha & Partners lawyers, while analysing India’s tobacco and liquor-related broadcast codes on legal website www.mondaq.com in September 2022, wrote: “Rule 7 of the CTN Rules (as amended in 2000 and 2008) prohibits advertisements which directly or indirectly promote the production, sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and, or, other tobacco products, and other intoxicants.

“While the CTN Rules did not expressly proscribe surrogate advertising, they provided that advertisements of other products that used the same brand or logo as the alcoholic beverage, tobacco product, or other intoxicant would only be permitted subject to: (i) certain conditions; and (ii) review by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) and certification from the Central Board of Film Certification.

“Contravention of the CTN Rules is punishable with: (i) imprisonment for up to two years and, or, a fine of up to INR 1,000 for a first offence; and (ii) imprisonment for up to five years and, or, a fine of up to INR 5,000 for a second or subsequent offence.”