ESS Secures FIA Formula One World Championship

SINGAPORE,
September 3: ESPN STAR Sports (ESS)
has reached a five-year deal with Formula One Management for the exclusive rights
to broadcast the FIA Formula One World Championship across multiple platforms
in 24 Asian markets.

The rights
would cover ESS’s footprint in Asia, including India, Hong Kong, Singapore,
Malaysia and South Korea. The broadcaster gets exclusive rights to showcase F1 action across platforms including TV,
Internet, mobile and radio.

The deal includes several
firsts for F1 in Asia. This will be the first time that F1 rights have been
awarded on a platform-neutral basis and the first time that radio rights have
been included. Additionally, ESS will have terrestrial rights in a number of
markets while this is the first time F1 content will be made available on a
linear and non-linear basis.

A maiden night race is
scheduled for September 28 in Singapore and races in India and South Korea will
be introduced in 2010.

Manu Sawhney, the managing
director of ESS, said: “We are extremely delighted to continue our 17-year
strong partnership with Formula One Management through this historic new
agreement. It is an ideal example of how partners can work together to build
and grow a property. ESS continues to be committed to further popularize and
build the sport of motor racing amongst fans in Asia and we are very confident
that now with many new platforms and avenues including Internet, mobile and
radio, F1 fans in Asia can look forward to the most comprehensive and
entertaining experience with us.”

Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO
of FOM, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this agreement extending our
relationship with ESPN STAR Sports for a further five years. Formula One has
enjoyed unprecedented growth in popularity throughout Asia over the last few
years and we feel that this comprehensive new agreement with ESS will help
continue this trend.”

—By Jackie Stewart