FUTURE IS CLEAR

A SPORTS broadcasting revolution will arrive at Mt Panorama next month with the Bathurst 1000 to become the first Australian sporting event to be broadcast in 4K.

Foxtel said ultra-high definition television would be launched at the Bathurst 1000 on October 7, making history for Supercars and Australian TV.

“For the first time in Australia, a live iconic sporting event, the Bathurst 1000, will be broadcast in 4K,” Foxtel chief Patrick Delany said.

“It will be the start of Foxtel’s 4K journey for sport, entertainment, documentaries and movies, and beginning on November 4 our cricket coverage commences in 4K as well.”

Delany said Foxtel had successfully tested 4K at the Sandown 500 last weekend.

“When we announced Foxtel 4K a month ago we challenged ourselves to bring it to life as soon as possible, and … we are delighted to bring Australians Bathurst before,” he said.

“It’s fitting that we will ring in a new era in Australian television with an event as big as the action at Mt Panorama.”

The 1000km race will be shown on a dedicated 4K channel in the highest resolution available in TV.

“Supercars is a sport of colour, sound and movement,” CEO Sean Seemer said.

“The cars, the action, excitement and the colour of this iconic Australian event will be like never captured like never before.”

Bathurst champion in 2013, Mark Winterbottom, said the 4K coverage would put viewers in the driver’s seat.

“You’ll be looking through our eyes, and you will see things you have never been able to see,” he said.

“You will be able to see little things like debris on the road and bits of rubber flying off tyres – the extra definition will have the viewer picking up the same things that we are seeing in the driver’ seat.”