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ITV Continues Live Coverage Of BTCC |
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Tuesday, 13 March 2007 |
ITV, the UK’s largest commercial terrestrial channel, will continue its live Sunday afternoon coverage of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2007.
This will be the fifth consecutive year that ITV1 has committed to broadcasting the BTCC, the country’s premier motor racing championship.
In addition to their Formula 1 duties for ITV, Louise Goodman and Ted Kravitz will host the channel’s BTCC coverage for the first time. Ben Edwards and former BTCC champion Tim Harvey will continue as race commentators.
The second half of the 2007 season will be shown live on ITV1 with the
opening five race meetings shown live on a prime ITV digital channel,
with comprehensive highlights on ITV1.
All ten race fixtures will also receive highlights coverage on ITV’s
Men & Motors channel (Freeview/cable/satellite). Furthermore, each
race day – including the BTCC’s support championships – will be shown
live on independent sports channel Setanta Sports (subscription
cable/satellite).
Details of which ITV Freeview channel (ie. either ITV2, 3 or 4) will
broadcast the live BTCC action, plus broadcast times, will be announced
in due course.
BTCC Series Director Alan Gow comments: “We are very proud and excited
to continue our association with ITV. What effectively amounts to an
expansion in coverage across its network is testament to its commitment
to the BTCC.
“We now have a total of four different TV channels that will be
broadcasting the BTCC throughout the UK and thus it gives the
championship a unique and excellent spread of terrestrial, Freeview and
subscription broadcast platforms – a factor that is important with the
increasing use of digital channels by the public. Nearly 80% of UK
households now have either Freeview or cable/satellite and ITV’s prime
digital channels regularly sees audiences of over a million viewers for
UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and live boxing.
“The BTCC now has an enormous reach across all broadcast platforms;
with all ten events being broadcast on ITV1 (either live or
highlights), plus five events broadcast live on a prime ITV digital
channel, plus all events broadcast on Men & Motors, plus all events
broadcast live through Setanta Sports… all of which provides viewers
with an unequalled choice and opportunities to watch the thrilling
action of the series.
“Proudly, this continues to be the biggest/best broadcast arrangement
for any British (four-wheel) motor sport and we thank ITV for their
continued enthusiasm and commitment for the championship.”
ITV Director of Sport Mark Sharman adds: “We are delighted to be
continuing our coverage of the BTCC in 2007. The championship has
always proven to be a great hit with our audiences and it is beginning
2007 in an even stronger position, with a tremendous line-up of teams,
drivers and cars.
“The BTCC very much remains an integral part of our portfolio of
top-line sporting events and we look forward with great enthusiasm to
bringing such an exciting sporting arena to our viewers again this
season.”
For more information about the BTCC visit the championship's official website http://www.btcc.net/.
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