News 2003 c

28-Oct-2003

The Wales Rally of Great Britain will be a crucial test of TV rights holder David Richards's plans to turn rallying into one of the world's five biggest TV sports. Richards believes that live television is vital and the last leg's Margam stage will be the long-awaited experiment in live programming.

The 14-kilometre stage will be covered by 54 cameras and screened on Channel 4 in Britain. Richards maintained that poor weather would make little difference to the footage, the only vulnerable element being WESCAM helicopter coverage.

Richards's company International SportsWorld Communicators will rely not simply on the programme being a success in Britain, but abroad. International willingness to screen live footage is essential to justify the costs. Finnish channel YLE has already agreed to take the programme. Broadcasters in France, Japan and Spain are said to be interested.

ISC has also released audited figures showing dramatic audience increases, notably in countries such as Germany. New deals with Chinese and Indian broadcasters are expected to take the 2003 total above 1,000,000,000.

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