The service offered additional features to the standard, single analogue television feed of the sport, which digital broadcasters had the option of taking up and broadcasting on their own digital interactive television platforms (at a higher price than the standard television feed, which often necessitated the broadcasters charging viewers for), such as channels dedicated to onboard cameras, cameras in the pit area, additional cameras focusing on action involving cars lower down the running order and live timing data.
By comparison, the majority of the coverage shown on the F1 Digital+ service was produced on-site at each Grand Prix venue by Formula One Management.
A second channel focused on showing action that was taking place involving cars lower down the running order.
)[6] From 1999, a new design for the graphic overlays was introduced to distinguish it from the standard coverage, and to incorporate new features such as race control updates.
In May 2018, 16 years after the end of the F1 Digital+, the FOM launched its F1 TV Pro OTT service, starting from the 2018 Spanish Grand Prix under the new owner of Formula 1 Liberty Media.
Exclusive are access to all onboard cameras of all drivers as well as three additional image signals and uncensored team radio (there had not been any since the end of F1 Digital+).
[10] The service was commentated on by Ben Edwards and John Watson, with pit lane reports from Peter Windsor.
Although the service was at the cutting-edge of sports broadcasting, it was never financially viable and was terminated at the end of the 2002 season with the loss of 220 jobs.
[1] Although F1 Digital+ was a commercial failure, many of the innovations the service offered were gradually implemented on the main Formula One World Feed over the following seasons.
The biggest innovation of pay per view was a permanent production team at every Grand Prix, establishing consistent quality over the variable nature of host broadcasters.
The success of F1 Digital+ in this area resulted in Formula One Management gradually taking control of the World Feed in the subsequent seasons.