ITV Sport has extended its long term partnership to continue screening highlights of the British Superbike Championship to the end of the 2018 season.
MotorSport Vision (MSV), the commercial and media rights holder of the championship, has agreed a new deal with the channel that will guarantee free-to-air exposure of every BSB race for the next five seasons.
Highlights of all twelve rounds of the season will be broadcast on ITV4 on the Wednesday evening following each meeting with an hour-long programme showcasing the UK’s most spectacular two-wheel motor racing series.
Each programme will be further repeated on ITV4 as well as on the main ITV network, and will also be available via the ITV Player catch-up service.
In addition, an end-of-season two hour review show, featuring race action together with exclusive behind the scenes footage and on-board action, will be broadcast at the end of each season.
Produced by ITV Sport, each BSB highlights show will feature all the dramatic moments from the previous weekend’s Superbike races and will bring viewers closer to the thrilling action with pre-race grid walks, post race interviews and behind the scenes features.
ITV’s on-air team takes a new look this year with experienced motorsport broadcaster Toby Moody leading the commentary team alongside three-times British Superbike Champion and former 500cc Grand Prix rider Niall Mackenzie.
Both will be joining presenter James Haydon, himself a former BSB race winner, who has hosted ITV’s British Superbikes highlights shows since they regained the rights in 2009.
In recent weeks, ITV Sport has added the MotoGP World Championship to its strong motorsport portfolio which also includes the Isle of Man TT races, the BTCC, BRDC Formula 4 and FIA Formula E Championships.
ITV’s Director of Sport Niall Sloane said: “The MCE British Superbike Championship delivers great action on every occasion and together with the unique personalities of the riders provides for compelling viewing.
“We are looking forward to a great season ahead and welcome the new commentary team of Toby Moody and Niall Mackenzie.”
Stuart Higgs, BSB Series Director, said: “I am delighted that we have extended our partnership with ITV to 2018, which in doing so will confirm ten consecutive years of MCE British Superbikes being broadcast free to air on ITV4.
“As we continue to develop the championship, ensuring that it remains accessible to as many people as possible is extremely important.
“This long term broadcast commitment with ITV is great news as we start what looks set to be an epic 2014 MCE BSB Championship season starting this weekend at Brands Hatch.”
Live coverage of the series will continue on British Eurosport, who agreed a new long term partnership at the end of the 2014 season which will see BSB races shown exclusively live on the pan-European channel until the end of the 2020 season.
The countdown is on to the start of the 2014 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend (April 18-21) and bike fans can catch all the action live on British Eurosport or by watching ITV4’s highlights.
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