Germany’s SPORT1 Holds On to MotoGP Rights

ISMANING: The German broadcaster SPORT1 has secured a rights package from Dorna Sports for MotoGP racing coverage through 2014.

The motorcycle racing series will also be available in Austria and Switzerland on the pay-TV channel SPORT1+. With the current season, SPORT1 offers more than 180 hours of word championship racing on free-to-air TV. All races from the series are also available on pay-TV channel SPORT1+ and on SPORT1+ HD. Under the new deal, SPORT1 will report from the free practice sessions, qualifying rounds and races in all three classes every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 2014.

SPORT1’s managing director, Zeljko Karajica, said: “MotoGP is the Formula 1 of motorcycling sports. The popularity of the motorcycling world championship has gained a lot of popularity—thanks to the great development of the German talents and the successes of Stefan Bradl, Sandro Cortese and Jonas Folger. We have also noticed this based on the considerably increased scope of our broadcasts. The contract extension with Dorna Sports by a further three years strengthens our top-class motorsports portfolio and is, at the same time, a mark of confidence in our editorial competence. SPORT1 remains the contact point number one for all fans of motorcycling sports!”

Dorna Sports’ managing director for media, Manel Arroyo, commented: “The continued growth in popularity of MotoGP in Germany and the success of German riders we have seen this season in the sport makes it highly important that fans in the country keep enjoying high-quality coverage of the sport, and thanks to SPORT1 they will do so for the next three seasons. SPORT1 provides in-depth, top-quality coverage and analysis of MotoGP across all three categories, and it is with great pleasure that Dorna maintains a strong working relationship with the broadcaster for the foreseeable future.”