RTL expands motorsport rights portfolio

German commercial broadcaster RTL has acquired rights for the 2013 GT and Blancpain Endurance motor-racing series.

RTL and its pay-television sister channel RTL Nitro will provide coverage of the two series, which are sanctioned by Fédération International de l’Automobile, motorsport’s world governing body.

The deals will run until at least the end of the series’ 2013 campaigns.

RTL will show highlights of five GT races as well as the 24 Hours of Spa and Nürburgring Blancpain Endurance series races.

RTL Nitro will provide live coverage of at least three races – from Slovakia, Nogaro in France and Zandvoort in the Netherlands – with the possibility of a fourth race being added. The channel will provide a one-hour highlights programme following all of the other GT races.

RTL struck the deal with the SRO Motorsports Group, which promotes the two series.

“The scope of the coverage that will be given by RTL will reach a huge audience and a massive demographic for our teams and commercial partners,” SRO chief executive Stephane Ratel said.