According to Autosport: “plans are at a sufficiently advanced stage for orders to have been placed for the equipment that Formula One chiefs will need for the sport to be broadcast in HD.”
Bernie Ecclestone, the sport’s commercial owner, has said several times that he wants to be sure there are enough viewers capable of watching HD coverage and that broadcast channels were ready to distribute it.
Formula One’s global partner LG, which has a commercial interest in the sport switching to HD, pioneered test footage of HD at the 2009 Monaco grand prix, and more recently tried out 3D cameras at this year's Canadian grand prix.
LG's vice president of marketing and global sponsorship Andrew Barrett said he is confident the sport would be broadcast in HD next year: "Not wanting to speak for Bernie, but we all know that the sooner the better…The fan will understand that in a moment, and every fan can have it – as they almost all have the HD televisions in their house. It cannot come fast enough and I hope it is next year – and I am hopeful that it is next year."
