The service launched at the 1996 German Grand Prix. Initially the service was only offered by the German-based DF1 service, broadcasting into Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The French broadcaster Canal Plus, also signed up for the service in 1996, with a ten-year contract estimated to be costing $60 million per year. Italian broadcaster TELE+ signed up at the beginning of the 1997 season. Spanish broadcaster Canal Satelite Digital joined at the beginning of the 1998 season. British broadcaster BSkyB however did not offer the service until later.