AutoAction
FREE DIGITAL MAGAZINE SIGN UP

SUPERCARS TV REVEAL DELAYED

Supercars TV reveal delayed - Image: InSyde Media

By Bruce Williams

Supercars TV reveal delayed - Image: InSyde Media

Supercars TV reveal delayed – Image: InSyde Media

Supercars has delayed the long-awaited announcement of the new-look TV commentary team.

By MARK FOGARTY

Originally scheduled to be revealed tomorrow (Wednesday), confirmation of the broadcast talent line-up will now not happen until Friday.

It is believed the postponement is due to a hold-up in the finalising of some of the contracts.

AUTO ACTION reported the likely commentary team on Sunday as largely unchanged following the fan backlash over the axing of popular pit lane pundit Mark Larkham.

Larko was reinstated and also re-signed are race callers Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife.

Jess Yates will return as the main host of the broadcasts, which will be simulcast on Fox Sports and Seven.

Also on the proposed talk team, as reported, are Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander, Seven’s Mark Beretta, Chad Neylon, Charli Robinson and Molly Taylor.

Few issues have been as divisive among Supercars fans as the composition of the commentary team amid reports of ‘dumbing down’ the telecasts with minimised coverage of technical subjects like tyres.

The overwhelmingly adverse public reaction to the announcement of Larko’s departure triggered an abrupt about-face.

Media were notified today that the TV announcements had been put off until Friday (February 12).

Also to be unveiled are enhanced graphics – ironically, including more technical data – for the telecasts on Fox Sports and Seven.

As well as the last-minute hitch with commentator contacts, AA understands the delayed TV announcements are related to the on-going dispute over free coverage on Foxtel’s Kayo sports streaming service.

Returning free-to-air broadcast partner Seven has been contesting Supercars’ decision to allow Kayo to show Fox Sports’ live telecasts at selected events, starting with the season-opening Mount Panorama 500 at the end of the month, without charge.

It is part of the Kayo Freebies promotion to show events of ‘minority’ sports to attract new viewers to the subscription service, which normally attracts a monthly fee for streaming access to Fox Sports.

For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media FacebookTwitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.