SUPERCARS MADE EARLY 7 BID
By Bruce Williams
Date posted: 8 July 2020
Supercars made early 7 bid – Photo: LAT
Auto Action has learned Supercars made an audacious bid during the COVID-19 pause to sign up Channel 7 as its free to air partner for the balance of the 2020 season alongside subscription channel Fox Sports.
By BRUCE NEWTON
But the plan was canned when Network 10 made it clear it intended to see out its contract, which extends to the end of 2020 to be the championship FTA broadcaster.
Recruiting 7 in 2020 would have been a handy sweetener segueing into a new multi-year broadcast deal alongside Fox Sports to commence in 2021.
Channel 7 remains one of two FTA networks in negotiations with Supercars for that gig with its rival said to be the Nine Network.
However, Seven is understood to be the favourite to ink the deal as the traditional FTA home of the Australia’s premier sedan racing category and the Bathurst 1000.
It is understood to be the ratings and therefore revenue opportunities the October classic represents that ensured 10 stuck with its Supercars contract.
Earlier this year 10 was reported by the Australian Financial Review to not be interested in renewing its Supercars deal. The departure of motorsport fan Matthew White as 10’s head of sport was also seen as a sign the financially challenged network was not a potential host.
The AFR has also been reporting more recently that Fox Sports and its parent Foxtel were keen to re-sign Supercars to a new multi-year deal and eventually shift much of the calendar to summer.
Multiple sources within the Supercars industry has kyboshed that plan to Auto Action. It is said the summer series has support among some members of category management and teams, but the majority of team owners are opposed as is – crucially – Fox Sports.
The primary reason for that is viewing numbers and therefore advertising revenue dip over summer.
Figures obtained by Auto Action show that TV advertising revenue is strongest between March and November and hits its peak in September and October, where blue ribbon Supercars events are already staged.
If 7 does sign up to Supercars current CEO Sean Seamer will have done the deal with his predecessor James Warburton, who now leads 7 and negotiated the six-year $241 million Fox/10 contract that started in 2015.
The new deal is not expected to reap the same financial gains because of the economic damage inflicted by the coronavirus.
Seven already has a deal with the Australian Racing Group to telecast TCR and other categories.
Warburton is both an ARG board member and shareholder in Supercars.
For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.
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