Blancpain Endurance Series - EXTENSIVE 2013 TV COVERAGE ANNOUNCED

RTL and RTL Nitro programmes to reach prime time audiences on terrestrial networks in Germany. Live FIA GT Series races confirmed. Highlights packages to reach millions on pre-F1 qualifying slots. Significant Brazilian coverage through SporTV channel. Comprehensive global distribution for both FIA GT Series and Blancpain Endurance Series
SRO Motorsports Group today confirms the most significant television package GT racing has ever enjoyed in Europe. For the 2013 FIA GT and Blancpain Endurance Series’ season, an agreement with German broadcaster, RTL, and its sister channel, RTL Nitro, will ensure that both series will receive unprecedented and extensive coverage on its terrestrial channels this season.

World-class GT racing through the FIA GT Series and Blancpain Endurance Series will now enjoy unrivalled coverage in key European markets where viewers understand and recognise the importance of German automotive brands competing against their on-track rivals.

RTL, the leading entertainment network in Europe, will show a highlights package of Nogaro, Zolder, Zandvoort, Slovakia and Navarra FIA GT races, combined with the prestigious 24 Hours of Spa and Nürburgring 1000kms Blancpain Endurance Series events. These will be shown immediately before live Formula One qualifying programmes on the main terrestrial RTL channel.

Complementing this far-reaching coverage, the Nogaro, Zandvoort, Slovakia and possibly a fourth FIA GT Race will all enjoy live coverage on RTL Nitro in 2013. For the other FIA GT races and all of the Blancpain Endurance Series races, a one hour same-day programme will air at the early evening primetime slot of 19:15-20:15 CET on RTL Nitro.

Some of the world’s most exciting GT action will be accessible to millions of race fans across the globe, who will tune in to see an unprecedented line up of prestigious brands including Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Corvette, Ferrari, Ford, Jaguar, Lamborghini, McLaren, Mercedes, Nissan and Porsche, likely to be joined by Bentley in the course of the season, do battle on iconic circuits such as Monza, Silverstone, Zandvoort, Nürburgring and the famous 24 Hours of Spa.

As well as exceptional coverage throughout Europe, GT racing is set to get a huge boost in South America as the SporTV Globo channel has committed to live broadcasts of all the FIA GT Races in support of the entries submitted by BMW Team Brazil, the first Brazilian team to embark on a full European campaign for many years.

In addition to today’s announcements many additional broadcasters and territories familiar to world-class GT racing are also confirmed. There will be exceptional coverage in Belgium with several major channels including highlights for each round of both series, promotional operations and live coverage of the 24 Hours of Spa.

The pan-European specialist motorsport channel, Motors TV which will show all FIA GT Series races live on the UK feed, while the Blancpain Endurance Series races will be shown on the pan-European feed (including the UK). Strong coverage will also be broadcast in France, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, UK, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The UK coverage on Channel 4 terrestrial TV has been confirmed for weekend morning slots after each event.

Worldwide, there will be broadcasts in Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, USA and Canada. Pan-regional coverage will be strong with Bloomberg EMEA, and widely distributed Motorsport Magazine programmes Mobil 1 The Grid and Race Max featuring races from both series. Many other negotiations are underway and likely to be announced shortly.

Also available for each race is a huge news distribution that offers short news items from the series’ that are made accessible on three satellites worldwide, through the Eurovision WorldFeed services. The news content is kept available for one month on different formats (screen/web/broadcast) through the Worldlink Eurovision service. Both services reach 1000 TV stations worldwide and all TV news agencies.

Once again in 2013 there will be dedicated online coverage via the official websites and on Youtube where live streaming of each race will be available. In conjunction with live social networking coverage from the heart of the paddock and media centres there will be the best-ever detailed analysis of the action for the season to come.

Quotes

SRO Motorsports Group CEO and Chairman, Stephane Ratel:

“This is a significant agreement we are announcing today. The scope of the coverage that will be given by RTL will reach a huge audience and a massive demographic for our teams and commercial partners. We are looking forward to expressing and sharing both the FIA GT Series and Blancpain Endurance Series and to showing the excitement and diversity that these multi-class format races can bring to TV viewers through our comprehensive TV package in 2013.”

RTL, Head of Sport, Manfred Loppe:

“The FIA GT Series and Blancpain Endurance Series are the ideal complement for RTL and its motorsports-portfolio. There are powerful types and strong brands opposing in a pulsating competition. These are just three cogent arguments, to join this race-series. With a highlight-presentation in the viewer-strong field of Formula 1 coverage on RTL and with extensive and contemporary broadcasts in the male-orientated program range of RTL NITRO we can position the GT-series in two attractive program-fields.”

2013 FIA GT Series calendar

1st April: Nogaro, France

21st April: Zolder, Belgium

14th July: Zandvoort, Netherlands

18th August: Slovakiaring, Slovakia

13th October: Navarra, Spain

November: TBA

2013 Blancpain Endurance Series calendar

14th April: Monza, Italy

2nd June: Silverstone, GB

30th June: Paul Ricard, France

27th July: 24Hrs of Spa, Belgium