Motorsport.tv launches on Freesat
January 12, 2018
By Colin Mann
Freesat, the UK’s subscription-free satellite TV platform, has added Motorsport.tv, the broadcaster of live racing and automotive content, to its News & Sport genre.
Available on channel number 253, the addition of Freesat represents Motorsport.tv’s first foray into subscription-free television in the UK, although its predecessor, Motors TV, was briefly available free-to-air firstly as a streamed service and subsequently as a linear channel on DTT platform Freeview.
Motorsport.tv offers the best in motoring entertainment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With shows ranging from live coverage of the 2018/19 FIA World Endurance Championship, to daily highlights of the FIA World Rally Championship, or all the behind-the-scenes news from the motorsport world in The Flying Lap, Motorsport.tv’s quality programming will keep any motoring enthusiast’s attention at maximum RPM.
Freesat viewers will get to enjoy the latest Motorsport.tv series, the 24 Hours of Le Mans: The Great History, which contains more than 70 official films and looks back through the archives of the world famous French enduro classic.
The launch of Motorsport.tv underlines Freesat’s focus on bringing customers as much free sporting content as possible, with the recent launch of the Freesports channel on the platform also part of this move towards improved sports programming.
“Motorsport.tv is a very welcome addition to Freesat’s roster, providing 24/7 motoring action to our viewers while bolstering our sports offering,” commented Alistair Thom, Managing Director of Freesat. “With an impressive depth and breadth of programming, Motorsport.tv’s arrival represents Freesat’s continued commitment to offering high-quality subscription-free TV.”
Kevin Annison, President of Motorsport.tv, noted that market research companyIndustryARC suggests that the global motorsport industry is expected to exceed $25 billion in annual turnover by the end of 2018. “Motorsport.tv is the premier television broadcaster dedicated to motorsport. Our launch on Freesat is an important step in our continued development in the UK market reaching all viewers across every screen, providing compelling content for motorsport fans and enthusiasts,” he added.
“Motorsport.tv‘s launch on Freesat boosts our reach to more than 27 million households across the world,” noted Roberto Perez, VP of Distribution of Motorsport.tv. “Freesat viewers in the UK will enjoy access to numerous live championships, including the FIA World Endurance Championship, Australian Supercars Championship, European Le Mans Series and TCR Europe Series, as well as two-wheeled action including the FIM World Motocross Championship. For 2018, we are also the exclusive home of the entire film archives for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will be added to our regular shows alongside The Flying Lap and Auto Mundial.”
Motorsport.tv was first launched in 2000 as Motors TV in France, and has since expanded to cover multiple European territories in several languages, having rebranded as Motorsport.tv in March 2017.