Dedicated motorsports channel Motors TV is to be made available to all regular Freeview and Youview households free of charge across the UK from Thursday, October 9.
Following a seven-month trial on Arqiva’s Connect TV service, Arqiva has now enabled the dedicated motorsport network to be rolled out to the 9.2million households that receive television broadcasts via standard free-to-air TV platforms.
The move to nationwide coverage for the channel on Freeview and Youview is set to dramatically increase the number of people able to receive the self-styled ‘High Speed Television Channel’.
Motors TV broadcasts a wide variety of international motorsports coverage for both two and four-wheel fans, screening around 120 individual racing series each year, which are transmitted in 42 countries to 25 million homes, subscribing by cable, satellite and broadband across Europe.
From October 9, new viewers are encouraged to re-tune their Freeview box or TV and switch to Channel 71, while YouView devices will automatically update. Compatible devices will also be able to pause and record programming, just like other standard free-to-air channels.
Motors TV’s UK-wide free-to-air service, which begins broadcasting around 11.00am on Thursday, October 9, will initially mirror that of its current full-time Sky, Virgin Media and connected-free-to-air programming.
However, at a later date the channel’s hours will switch to 8.00pm-5.00am on weekdays, while remaining on air 24 hours a day during weekends from Fridays at 8.00am to Monday 5.00am.
Motors TV’s existing output on Sky, Virgin Media and connected-free-to-air services will remain unaffected.
The channel is also available to Freeview HD homes with compatible equipment, broadcast in standard definition. The Freeview service is subject to coverage and an aerial upgrade may be required.
Commenting on the move, Frederic Viger, Motors TV’s head of programming and acquisitions, said: “The Arqiva Connect TV trial proved there are far more motorsport viewers out there than were originally watching on our other platforms.
“From the start we saw it as a stepping stone and the fantastic response has given us the confidence to continue expanding.
“Plus, many more potential viewers have also been very vocal on social media about wanting to receive the channel via Freeview HD and YouView. Well, this is the result!
“For the first time ever terrestrial TV viewers can watch the widest range of live motorsport coverage in the UK, as well as world championships, international and national series, and the sort of grassroots categories that are already enjoyed by thousands of fans across the country.
“I should also add that we couldn’t have picked a better weekend to expand our potential audience as we’ll be showing V8 Supercars’ showpiece event – the Bathurst 1000 – live in its entirety. I know that will go down very well indeed!”
Motors TV has been broadcasting in the UK since 2001 and is already available on Sky, Virgin Media and connected Freeview TV platforms, but its move to its own dedicated channel on Freeview and YouView allows Motors TV to further expand its reach and offer many more motorsport fans the opportunity to tune in.
The channel’s output in 2014 has included regular highlights from the FIA World Rally Championship, which it holds joint rights with alongside BT Sport and ITV Sport.
There is also live action from the FIA World Endurance Championship, V8 Supercars in Australia, European Formula 3, NASCAR Nationwide Series as well as FIM endurance and trials racing.
For further details of Motors TV’s coverage, visit motorstv.co.uk, like the channel’s Facebook page, or follow @MotorsTV on Twitter.
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