Fans of the FIM Motocross World Championship received exciting news this week with an announcement that rights-holders Youthstream have agreed a three year contract with pan-European TV sports channel Eurosport for live, delayed and highlight package coverage of the series.
Eurosport already provides comprehensive broadcast hours of the Superbike World Championship and with MotoGP edging less towards free-to-air channels, 2014 presented a decent opportunity for MXGP to regain a treasured slot with the company that reaches 54 countries and an estimated 133 million homes.
The FIM series has not appeared on the Eurosport network on a regular basis since 2010 (even highlights began to be shown from the middle of 2013 in a forerunner to the new arrangement) and in recent years enjoyed healthy coverage through satellite partner Motors TV as well as Youthstream’s creation of an internet-based package in MXLife.tv. Motors was however restricted through its standard definition signal and with MXGP airing in HD from 2013 a forward step was needed.
Youthstream have already confirmed that both second motos from the 2014 championship opener at Qatar on March 1st will be live (airing at 20.00 and 21.00 CET time) with the first motos delayed from 18.30. The contract will cover 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Motocross of Nations also as part of the deal. Eurosport will show the 26 minute highlight show on Tuesday after every one of the eighteen rounds and MXGP and MX2 motos will be run either live or delayed on Eurosport or Eurosport 2. Seven of the current MXGP dates (Trentino, Spain, Britain, Germany, Sweden, Finland and Brazil) clash with races in the fourteen round World Superbike series, which could affect the live transmission potential of those particular events but the Finnish stop is on the same weekend at the Laguna Seca WSB.
‘We thank Eurosport for their trust, together we will bring our sport to the homes of all European Motocross fans,’ Mr. Giuseppe Luongo, Youthstream’s President, said. ‘This agreement brings another important step for the promotion of MXGP. The long-term organization, the big investment into HD production and the high quality and great show of MXGP events make our sport appealing for the prime broadcasters and for the fans worldwide.’
Arnaud Simon, Eurosport’s TV content director said: “The best of Motocross is on Eurosport and it’s a great addition to our two-wheels rights portfolio. Motocross will satisfy the off-road fans and will help to balance our offer of circuit competitions like FIM Superbike World Championship and British Superbike. This new deal is part of our process to reinforce our global motorsports offer”.
Photo by Ray Archer
