The operators of the Australian V8 Supercars motor-racing series have scaled back their ambitions for a five-year rights deal, from 2013 to 2017, and have halted attempts to sell digital rights for the time being, according to the Melbourne Age newspaper.
The report said that V8 was hoping to secure a ‘stopgap arrangement’ on free-to-air television before restarting negotiations over digital rights for the next cycle.
The newspaper added that commercial broadcaster the Seven Network – the previous rights-holder in a six-year deal, from 2007 to 2012 – and pay-television broadcaster Fox Sports are in talks with V8 over an interim rights deal, and an agreement could be reached this week.
The report added that any agreement with Seven is only likely to run for one or two years, with the action being shown on the broadcaster’s secondary digital channel 7mate. Fox Sports would be likely to show coverage on its motorsport-dedicated channel Speed.