Industry news: WorldSBK TV coverage to reach new levels in 2017
Dorna WSBK Organization have announced that their worldwide broadcasting coverage is set to expand into 2017. With more air time and channels than ever before, WorldSBK will be enjoyed in over 20 networks. A variety of new deals for the hotly anticipated 2017 season will see more exposure than ever before, as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship heads into its 30th season.
As the series continues to look at new ways of expanding and moving forward, the news that free practise and all Superpole sessions will be available to broadcast is one that will be welcomed by fans all around the world. At all 13 Rounds of the season, more hours will be produced and aired, with the addition of Friday. With access from the beginning to the end of the weekend, the true feeling of being in touch with WorldSBK will be felt for the first time ever.
Attracting a much wider audience, the WorldSBK series has secured a host of new deals in new territories which will see its audience continue to expand. Servus TV in Austria and Germany will offer 90 minute shows for the WorldSBK races, showing them live to their fans as they look to support Germans Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) and Markus Reiterberger (Althea BMW Racing Team), in their quest for those all important podium finishes. As WorldSBK returns to Portugal for Round 10 this year, Sport TV now offer live coverage of WorldSBK and WorldSSP races. Reigning World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuolgu will be celebrated in his home country with SSport TV, as a two year contract will see the channel offer Live WorldSBK Races and Superpole, Live WorldSSP races as well as the STK1000 races live, for all 13 WorldSBK rounds. Spiler TV further adds to the European coverage, with the Hungarian channel broadcasting all live feed coverage. FLOW Sports will provide coverage of the world´s fastest production-based motorcycle series to the Caribbean from 2017. AlmaSport TV will bring even more coverage for the STAN countries in the Middle East, whilst OSN will keep the Middle East and North Africa up to speed with the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship series; making WorldSBK accessible to millions more fans than ever before.
Dorna Sports are also thrilled to have kept hold of their highlights broadcasts ahead of the season, with channels bringing the exhilarating MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship to the masses via free-to-air broadcasters. Renewing the contract with British mainstream channel ITV4, the World Superbike Championship highlights programme will be aired in a prime time slot of 8PM. Giving British fans chance to keep up with the stunning performances from their home heroes. Australia will continue to show the highlights package on SBS, meaning no one can miss out on any of the racing action, even after the event. In Hungary, their TV2 channel will provide the whole country with access to the thriving WorldSBK championship, as fans can catch up with any action missed on their highlights programmes. Motorsport.TV have got Pan-Europe covered, airing across the continent giving no excuse to miss out on any of the stunning 13 WorldSBK Rounds.
Eurosport continue to be a strong broadcasting partner within the WorldSBK paddock, on a Pan-Continental basis. With commentary appropriate to each country, coverage will be second to none. British Eurosport will exclusively cover all Rounds with live on-site commentary and a Live U KIT camera; on top of a full production over three rounds and free practise available on Eurosport Player. Mediaset covers Italian fans enjoyment of the series, as Ducati and Marco Melandri, Aprilia and Lorenzo Savadori, and MV Agusta are pivotal parts with full production on site for all events. Whilst Teledeporte and Esport3 will air in Spain as fans will look to the success of Jordi Torres, Roman Ramos, and Xavi Fores for 2017.
Fox Asia will continue to play an important part in WorldSBK. The Asian conglomerate will broadcast every race to more than 25 countries from each class live or later the same day, on the home of Asian two-wheeled motorsport. Emphasis will be on the second round of the series in Thailand, on top of special mention given to Malaysian Zulfahmi Khairuddin. Under the same umbrella, Fox Australia will continue to show the stunning MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship in 2017, providing all races as well as every session live or later the same day. There will be plenty for Australian’s to look out for Down Under, with Lachlan Epis (Response RE Racing) competing in WorldSSP. Australia’s neighbour, New Zealand will be able to continue to view WorldSBK via SKY as they cover all series for 2017 as Avalon Biddle takes on the new WorldSSP300 series. JSPORTS, Japans leading sports channel will maintain their coverage of WorldSBK racing action into 2017 as they have extended their contract into the new season. With a strong presence around the circuit, a Monday night prime-time slot and all live racing action on their OTT, fans can watch their key Japanese manufacturers and riders progress.
Continuing to keep the America’s connected to the exhilarating WorldSBK championship, beIN Sports will host the coverage for the US and Canada once more for 2017, enabling Americans to keep up with how Nicky Hayden progresses aboard the Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team machine, before the series heads across the pond to Laguna Seca in July.
Latin America gains the third Fox Sports coverage, with the countries get to see the series in all its glory with action either live or later on the same day; whilst Brazil will have its own provider with ESPN and Pan Africa is to be hosted by SuperSport.
It is not only WorldSBK coverage that is thriving on TV channels; www.worldsbk.com continues to provide worldwide coverage all year round. With exclusive interviews, breaking news stories and featured articles on our new and improved website, whilst our social media feeds continue to be on the up and to impress.
WorldSBK’s twitter growth is also worth noting, as it has improved by over 20% in the last year with the follower count growing day in day out, whilst engagement is up by an astounding 163%. Instagram followers have almost doubled over the past year, with WorldSBK now posting to nearly 300,000 fans on a daily basis. Whilst on Facebook – which the format of is ever changing – we are reaching 1.5million users, which is on is on a steady incline of 20%.
The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship will be more accessible to you than ever before, and wherever you are in the world the un-missable action won’t be too out of reach. Ensure you never miss a lap of what is set to be a spine tingling WorldSBK season by connecting with the free WorldSBK App.
Source: WorldSBK
