E3 2008: Gran Turismo TV E3 Sony Conference Impressions

While Gran Turismo 5 Prologue was lauded for its realistic handling and incredible graphics, many racing fans were just as excited about the GT TV feature, which promised a plethora of online shows. The service was fleshed out a little more today, when Sony announced a host of new HD content for the platform, as well as an official roll-out date of August 1 2008.

Top of the list of GT TV content is Top Gear, the British motoring show that has found an international audience online. Jeremy Clarkson and co. will be joining the service with an unconfirmed number of episodes, a fact that Sony flaunted as often as possible during the presentation.

Alongside Top Gear are lots of new shows under the "Gran Turismo TV" banner. These include live events, such as the D1 Grand Prix, the Super GT Suzuka, and 24-hour Nurburgring racing. In addition to this, Gran Turismo 5 producer Kazunori Yamauchi will be presenting shows such as "All About Ferrari," which will look at the Italian brand's heritage, test circuits, and manufacturing facilities.

Sony is also planning shows that concentrate on specific vehicles, such as the GT-R Legend and first impressions of the Lancer Evolution X. According to the presentation, all GT TV content will be presented in full high definition, but no details on pricing or availability were made clear.

GT TV is another neat feature of the Prologue package, and it will finally be released on August 1 2008.