flagrag Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 SKY SPORTS will be the home of international speedway for the next five years. Under a new deal for the 2008 to 2012 seasons Sky Sports will show exclusive live coverage of the FIM Speedway Grand Prix Series and the Speedway World Cup. The award comes as the sport reveals a boom in interest, with a five-fold increase in international attendances since 2000 and a doubling of TV audiences over the past two seasons. The new deal includes: · LIVE GRAND PRIX - At least eleven Grand Prix events each season for the next five years. The events feature the best riders from around the world competing as individuals. · LIVE WORLD CUP - At least four World Cup events each year for the next five years. Speedway's ultimate team prize, where riders from the leading speedway nations compete as teams at international level. Under a separate contract Sky Sports also shows exclusive live coverage of the domestic Sky Sports Elite League, featuring 32 live meetings between March and October. Commenting on the new deal for international speedway, Vic Wakeling, Managing Director of Sky Sports said: "The British Grand Prix in Cardiff has become a showcase for speedway, and an example of how interest has grown over the years. Crowds of close to 50,000 remind me of the boom years of speedway - and we think it will continue to grow at all levels, including the Elite League. We are delighted to be a part of it all." Sky Sports has shown live speedway since 1995 covering; every Grand Prix for the last twelve seasons, every race from the Speedway World Cup since 2001 and the domestic Sky Sports Elite League since 1999. The German Grand Prix, from Gelsenkirchen on Saturday 13 October, will be the 100th live speedway Grand Prix shown on Sky Sports. Attendances at the British Grand Prix have grown from 8,000 to 40,000 plus over the past seven years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyHart Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 No PL mentioned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 a doubling of TV audiences over the past two seasons. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> because so many have deserted watching at the tracks, which means more clubs struggling to keep going. i like the Sky coverage, but there's a price to pay, and when Sky are no longer interested will we have a sport to follow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 No PL mentioned <{POST_SNAPBACK}> On the PL thread it has been announced that Rye versus IOW on SKY on August 27th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 i like the Sky coverage, but there's a price to pay, and when Sky are no longer interested will we have a sport to follow? So the riders and promoters need to keep the sport very entertaining then they won't want to drop it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GirlFriday Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Attendances at the British Grand Prix have grown from 8,000 to 40,000 plus over the past seven years. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What a load of ballony, if only 8,000 had turned up at the Millennium stadium it wouldn't have been chosen as a GP fixture the following season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 8,000 in the Millennium Stadium Come on someone must have the figures for the last 7 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 So the riders and promoters need to keep the sport very entertaining then they won't want to drop it <{POST_SNAPBACK}> i thought thats what they'd been trying to do for the last 75 years but it hasn't always worked has it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 Exactly so hopefully the changes this winter will help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 What a load of ballony, if only 8,000 had turned up at the Millennium stadium it wouldn't have been chosen as a GP fixture the following season <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think the 8,000 figure might be referring to the Grand Prix held at Coventry before the switch to the Millenium Stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Jamie Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 I think the 8,000 figure might be referring to the Grand Prix held at Coventry before the switch to the Millenium Stadium. that's cheating bad Sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Bee Posted August 14, 2007 Report Share Posted August 14, 2007 8,000 in the Millennium Stadium Come on someone must have the figures for the last 7 years <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It depends where you're counting from/to. They're probably not including 2007, meaning their 8,000 figure was probably from Brandon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyke Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 that's cheating bad Sky <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry but thats PR for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 because so many have deserted watching at the tracks, which means more clubs struggling to keep going. i like the Sky coverage, but there's a price to pay, and when Sky are no longer interested will we have a sport to follow? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Do you have any proof that speedway on TV has resulted in reduced crowds? I don't know anyone who chooses to watch a meeting on TV, rather than attend their local track. Personally I think it would be a massive boost to speedway if it could get coverage on a free-to-air channel, both in terms of a wider audience and increased media interest. I always feel there is a kind of "boycott" by other media if a sport is shown exclusively on Sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehone Posted August 15, 2007 Report Share Posted August 15, 2007 Do you have any proof that speedway on TV has resulted in reduced crowds?<{POST_SNAPBACK}> erm ... my eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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