SEVEN TO SHOW MORE LIVE RACING ON SUPERCARS WEEKENDS
Seven to show more live coverage on Supercars weekends – Image: InSyde Media
Supercars general manager of television and content Nathan Prendergast has revealed some more details to the Network Seven deal, including several of the free-to-air events and increased race weekend coverage.
By DAN McCARTHY
During a media conference with Prendergast, three of the six free-to-air Supercars rounds were confirmed, however the final half are yet to be determined.
“Seven is taking both the Bathurst’s (the 500 later this month and 1000 in October) and the Gold Coast, being the final event of the year,” he told media including Auto Action.
“We’re still working with them on finalising the remaining three, there’s a couple of obvious ones that you’d consider but I am yet to get clarification from them (Seven).”
It is likely that the popular Townsville street event will remain live on free to air television as it has on the 10 Network.
During these six-rounds, Network Seven will have increased rights to the live on-track action including showing selected support categories live, much like the network did when it previously had the broadcast rights back in 2014.
“Channel Seven will take some of the support categories, Super2 and Porsche Carrera Cup at this stage,” Prendergast said.
“In the past Channel 10 weren’t live for any of the support races, so they tended to pick and choose supports. It was contractual then that it (supports) couldn’t be live.”
AA understands that the Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series will also be a support category shown live on Seven throughout the year.
For the Bathurst 500 event Seven will run its own content in between sessions, similar to what Network 10 did from 2015-2020.
“For the Mount Panorama 500, Seven will be adding some extended coverage to their broadcast and that will include presenters Jack Perkins and Brad Hodge with Abbey Gelmi in a co-host arrangement,” he explained.
“Abbey and Brad you will be familiar with from the ARG coverage, with Beretts down in Tasmania (for the Australian Racing Group opening round).
“Seven will show the races live and will only fill the gaps in between, they’ll have the ability to do that themselves.
“They will be bringing some of their additional talent which will allow them to conduct some of their own interviews and do some of their own colour stories.
“That right now is only confirmed for the Mount Panorama 500, we’re still working with Seven on what the rest of the season looks like.”
Prendergast is delighted to see the level of interest and time that Seven is already pouring into Supercars, and is excited to see what content they come up with.
“Seven haven’t even had one round and they’re already talking about further opportunities with additional programming and cross promotion, by putting our people, our drivers and our team owners into their products,” he said.
“We’re going to use the reach and the promotion of Seven, combined with the strong Fox background of a really solid motorsport courage to give everyone what they want hopefully.”
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