The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is set to go HD in 2011 as ITV announce an extension to its live coverage for a further three years.
The new agreement will begin in 2011 and will continue to include live race day coverage on ITV4 plus BTCC race highlights on ITV1 and ITV4 after each event.
A new addition to the package will see the events broadcast in HD on the new ITV4 HD channel set to be launched soon.
The ITV website will continue it’s live-stream of race day coverage for UK audiences along with making highlights available to view over the season via a dedicated page and the ITV Player.
The announcement of the new deal means the relationship between BTCC and ITV will extend to 12 consecutive years with the network first broadcasting action back in 2002.
Alan Gow, BTCC Series Director, said: “ITV's coverage of and enthusiasm for the BTCC has grown year on year and is clearly demonstrated by the fact we are jointly able to announce this terrific news some six months before our 2011 season even starts.
“ITV continues to provide the BTCC with fantastic free-to-air TV broadcasting that is the great envy of the sport. I'm absolutely delighted that our teams, drivers, sponsors, partners and many millions of fans can all now look forward to benefiting once more from ITV's superb coverage for at least the next three seasons. And to now also be available in HD further underlines the quality and breadth of the BTCC's television coverage”.
Niall Sloane, Head of ITV Sport, commented: “Everyone at ITV Sport is delighted that we have been able to continue our coverage of the British Touring Car Championship. The exciting races are a major feature of the ITV4 schedule and we look forward to three more great seasons with the BTCC.”
The new deal includes:
– Live coverage on ITV4 from 11.30am to 6.00pm each race day
– Live coverage on ITV4 HD from 11.30am to 6.00pm each race day
– Highlights programme on ITV1
– Highlights programme on ITV4
– Live-streaming of race day coverage via the itv.com website
– Replays of each highlights programme for 30 days after via the 'ITV Player'
– Highlights all season of every race via the 'race archive' at www.itv.com/touringcars
