World Touring Car Championship promoter Eurosport Events has secured rights deals with eight free-to-air broadcasters in mainland China for the motor racing series’ forthcoming races in Beijing and Shanghai.
Channel Max (SiTV) based in Shanghai, and CSPN Network based in Beijing – including Shandong TV, Hubei TV, Xinjiang TV and Jiangxi TV – will broadcast the two races live.
CCTV 5, the state-owned sports broadcaster, will broadcast highlights of the event within its ‘Auto times’ weekly magazine programme, while free-to-air and pay-television broadcaster TVB in Hong Kong and public-service broadcaster Teledifusao de Macau will broadcast a dedicated magazine programme during the week following the races.
Eurosport Asia will deliver comprehensive live television coverage of the two events on a pan-Asian basis, whilst Fox Sports Asia will offer recorded coverage.
Francois Ribeiro, Eurosport Events chief operating officer, said: “It’s the first time Eurosport Events will run two back to back events in China over the two main cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Given the importance of the Chinese automotive market and the first ever WTCC participation of Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua on his home soil, we were really keen to deliver solid domestic coverage.”
Beijing will host the first race on October 5, followed by Shanghai’s event a week later.