Pan-regional sports broadcaster Eurosport has acquired rights to motorcycling’s Endurance World Championship under a wide-ranging deal with the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM).
Eurosport Events, the events management division of the Eurosport Group, has agreed a six-year contract for promotion of the Endurance World Championship from 2015 until 2020.
Under the deal, the Championship will be broadcast live on Eurosport 2 in Europe and on Eurosport in the Asia-Pacific region. A 26-minute highlights programme will be broadcast on Eurosport on each Tuesday following the event. Every race will also be covered live on Eurosport Player, Eurosport’s online subscription television service.
As the official series promoter, Eurosport Events will be responsible for shaping the calendar, as well as television production, host broadcasting and providing live timing and results. The promoter will also seek to enhance media visibility for the series through third party broadcasters, as well as managing associated commercial properties.
Launched in 1980, the Endurance World Championship includes races such as the 24H Le Mans, Bol D’Or, Suzuka 8Hours and Oschersleben. The series features motorcycle manufacturers such as Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Aprilia and BMW.
Vito Ippolito, president of FIM, said: “We welcome this partnership which should allow this FIM Championship, with its illustrious history and its dedicated fans, to gain new visibility through the platforms offered by Eurosport. Endurance racing is one of the most exciting forms of road racing and we are looking to Eurosport Events to bring it to new audiences and to a new generation.”