Following preliminary tests at the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix F1's chief executive Bernie Ecclestone signed a deal in 1996 to broadcast F1 on digital TV network DF1 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A total of 20 track cameras, 14 on-board cameras and six pitlane cameras were required to produce six different channels – main race action, secondary race action, pitlane action, on-board cameras, highlights and live timing. The service gave subscribers the opportunity to switch between them and direct their own race, addressing common concerns that F1 broadcasts often missed some of the action or focussed only on the race leaders.