The pay-per-view Formula 1 service available through Sky Digital, F1 Digital +, has been closed down with immediate effect.

The channel, which offered a choice of eight video screens and information feeds at a cost of £12 per race, had suffered from poor subscription figures since its launch in February this year.

Similar services offered via digital TV on the continent have also been halted as from today.

According to the Media Guardian, the sophisticated equipment used to provide the interactive options will now be employed for free-to-air broadcasts.