Singapore – Outdoor Channel (Asia) and ESPN have announced an exclusive pan-regional agreement which will see Outdoor Channel become the exclusive pan-regional broadcaster of the IndyCar Series and of X Games Austin and X Games Aspen in Southeast Asia and parts of the wider Asia-Pacific region.
As part of the multi-year agreement, Outdoor Channel and ESPN will jointly promote and market the IndyCar Series and the two signature X Games events across Southeast Asia and target regional broadcast sponsors with the aim of growing the respective franchises in the region.
Indianapolis 500
The move comes after Outdoor Channel strengthened its Asian programming slate with a string of new shows airing in 2014, including Ironman Asia Pacific Championships, Australasian Safari, World Heli Challenge, Wild Spirits, FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championships,Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge, and Kiteboard Tour Asia, amongst others.
Gregg Creevey, Managing Director, Multi Channels Asia said: “We are pleased to be able to announce the cooperation with ESPN, which we hope will be the first of many collaborations in Asia-Pacific. Both IndyCar and X Games have tremendous following in the U.S. and globally and present enormous potential for growth in the Asia-Pacific region. We believe that by working closely with ESPN we will be able to draw in new fans and bring these franchises to the next level.”
Added Mike Morrison, vice president and general manager, ESPN Asia/Pacific: “The X Games and IndyCar are incredibly exciting, world-class competitions that have set benchmarks for the best in action sports and motorsports competitions. We’re excited to be able to connect such dynamic sports action to millions more fans across Southeast Asia where we know there is great sporting passion.”
Added Robby Greene, President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions: “IndyCar couldn’t be happier to be part of this exciting collaboration, where the winner is ultimately the fans who will now be served this action packed programming. The ability to have IndyCar racing delivered to viewers in Southeast Asia, combined with the quality only ESPN can accomplish, is going to improve the sports content options to those who are most important…the fan.”
The deal is exclusive pan-regionally, though it allows for individual country-by-country deals to co-exist.
