Are broadcasting rights killing motorsport?

Australian V8 Supercars, Fiasco Sports, Film and TV, Formula 1, MotoGP

With media deals happening in every category for 2015, are these new pay-TV deals pushing fans away from the sport?

With a sport that costs a lot of money to run with the fancy bodywork, complicated engineering and the drivers that are paid by the millions, there is also the media side of racing that costs channels millions each year, resulting in major series of motorsport no longer available free-to-air.

MotoGP is one category with a faint future on free-to-air, with fans purchasing a Foxtel sports package to watch their favourite rider or constructor win the world championship.

Network Ten are currently in their final year of televising the MotoGP, but will only retain full live coverage of the MotoGP until the end of 2014. Fox Sports are broadcasting every Moto2, Moto3 and MotoGP practice, qualifying and races live in 2014.

Another broadcasting amend includes the new contract in V8 Supercars, with Seven losing the rights to Network Ten, Foxtel and Fox Sports, with only six of the races in the 2015 championship to be available on free-to-air channels.

Former TEN CEO and current CEO of V8 Supercars James Warburton signed the new broadcasting rights deal, including a $241 million media deal with Foxtel, Fox Sports and Network Ten for all media rights including $196 million cash and $45 million of advertising, making this deal the biggest in V8 Supercars history.

The new deal means that only the Adelaide, Townsville, Sandown, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Sydney V8 rounds will only be shown free-to-air.

“This is a tremendous and significant deal for our sport,” Mr Warburton said.

“It is a great boost to our amazing race teams and fans and will lead to unprecedented coverage on multiple platforms for our sport, never before seen on such a scale.”

Formula 1 is set to stay on free-to-air with the coverage supported by Network Ten, the only major motorsport category worldwide not under the Fox banner in 2015.

Currently on free-to-air channels in Australia, only the Formula 1 and V8 Supercars are shown live to racing fans.

Other categories shown within free-to-air are broadcasted a week or so later, including ONE HD’s coverage of the World Series Sprintcars, Australian Rally Championship and NASCAR.

Fans have expressed concern about the new broadcasting rights, stating it is another expense they cannot afford.

After interviewing fans at Winton Raceway during the V8 Supercar event at the Winton 400, most said they were outraged and disappointed about spending money every month to watch motorsport.

Nothing yet has been confirmed towards the coverage for motorsport after 2015.

By Loren Hazelwood. @LorenHazelwood

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Maxwell Impresses in Darwin Finishing Second at States

Sprint Karting, Thomas Maxwell

Thomas Maxwell leading the way in Darwin

15-YEAR-OLD Thomas Maxwell has achieved his career best result to date in sprint karting, finishing second at the Open State Titles in Junior National Light at his home circuit at Hidden Valley.

The Dino Kart driver impressed from day one, qualifying pole position in both sessions by nearly two-tenths to his Australian champion rival.

Maxwell backed up his speed and set the fastest lap both heats, winning comfortably in heat one.

Heat two saw Maxwell race hard with Bryce Fullwood, passing Fullwood with two-laps to go and taking his second win for the weekend.

Maxwell once again had a tight battle with Fullwood, making a spectacular finish in the pre-final crossing the line in second by one-tenth of a second.

With the racing being close throughout the whole weekend, Maxwell started second for the final. At the start Maxwell was pushed back to fifth, but fought back passing his opponents one-by-one.

The teenager then managed to regain second position, hunting down his rival and pulling away from the rest of the field.

As the laps went on, Maxwell started to catch the Australian champion by nearly one-tenth a lap.

After lap 9, the kart started to go off after making the wrong technical change to the kart, allowing the times to drop a tenth a lap, allowing Fullwood to maintain the margin.

Thomas Maxwell finished in second place in the final to Bryce Fullwood, with the gap back to third over two-seconds.

“I was extremely happy with our results over the weekend,” said Maxwell.

“Being able to break through for my maiden pole position and podium really shows that all our hard work over the last few weeks has really paid off.

“The Dino kart showed great pace throughout the whole weekend setting numerous fastest laps throughout the races and I look forward to the next title.”

Maxwell’s next race meeting is at Darwin, then will head to Melbourne in a few weeks time to back-up his great results and race at the City of Melbourne event.

Round Four Win for Todd Hazelwood at Sydney

Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, Todd Hazelwood Racing

Todd Hazelwood wins the Forpark National class

17-YEAR-OLD Todd Hazelwood has achieved his career best in Formula 3, winning the Forpark National Formula 3 class for the fourth round of the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

Hazelwood was consistently quick throughout the whole round, qualifying pole position, winning race one and winning the all-important 14-lap feature race, defeating his current championship rival.

The round win didn’t come easy for Hazelwood, with the Fujitsu Racing driver being pushed all the way by the championship contenders.

“The race was unreal, it was a tight race between Arrie and myself and it was great to back it up with a great result,” said Hazelwood.

“It’s been by far my best weekend in racing in open wheel racing, and it’s finally good to see the hard work and dedication paying off.

“This weekend would have not been possible without my supporters and I’d like to thank Fujitsu Racing, R-Tek Motorsport and my sponsors.”

Todd Hazelwood is now looking forward to back up his great results from this weekend at Queensland Raceway in three weeks time.

“Hopefully we can maintain our consistent run in the championship and have a good round at Queensland Raceway,” said Hazelwood.

“I’ve never raced at the Queensland circuit so it will be good to once again test my ability and learn a new track on the Formula 3 calendar.”

Hazelwood’s round win helps the South Australian’s championship campaign, closing the gap to the current series leader.

Todd Hazelwood currently sits second on 119 points in the Forpark National class, with the championship leader on 161.

The next round of the championship is held at Queensland Raceway, a part of the Shannons Nationals series on August 2-4.

Media by Loren Hazelwood

Motor sport media, marketing and content specialist

Sport

Are broadcasting rights killing motorsport?

Maxwell Impresses in Darwin Finishing Second at States

Round Four Win for Todd Hazelwood at Sydney