Sport1 signs F1 TV deal

Dutch pay television broadcaster Sport1 has signed an agreement to broadcast Formula One in the Netherlands until 2015.

The agreement will begin with March's Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the 2013 season.

Sport1 will broadcast every race live, utilizing multiple feeds in much the same manner as Sky does in Germany and the UK; Sky Italia will do the same in Italy from this season.

The deal ends free-to-air broadcaster RTL7's long association with Formula One.

Commercial broadcaster Veronica, owned by SBS Broadcasting, will broadcast three Grands Prix, in Canada, the United States and Brazil, live on a free-to-air basis and show highlights of the rest.

The deal comes as Giedo Van der Garde is poised to become the first Dutchman to race in Formula One since 2007.