German public-service broadcaster ARD has agreed a two-season extension to its rights contract for the DTM German touring cars series.
The agreement signed with DTM rights-holder and promoter ITR covers the 2016 and 2017 seasons of the series.
ARD has shown the DTM since 2000 and has held exclusive live rights to the series since 2005.
The new DTM season gets underway at Hockenheim on the weekend of May 7-8 and again includes 18 races across nine weekends. In 2016, one race will again be held on Saturday and Sunday, both broadcast live on ARD. Qualifying sessions will be offered on a live streaming basis via the DTM.com and Sportschau.de platforms.
Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of ITR, said: “The long-term partnership with ARD is an important factor in the DTM’s success. The new concept with two races per weekend and rules that are easier to understand has also led to positive feedback from television viewers. Together, we want to continue on this path.”