10 to exit Supercars in October
“We look forward to finishing on a high with the 2020 Bathurst 1000 in October."
- Published by David Knox
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- Filed under News
Network 10 has confirmed it will end its broadcasting deal with V8 Supercars, potentially putting Seven Network in the driver’s seat.
“Network 10 will not renew its contract with the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, which expires at the end of this year,” a Network 10 spokesperson said.
“Network 10 has enjoyed a great relationship with the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship over the past six years and it’s been a privilege to bring our audiences world-class racing.
“We look forward to finishing on a high with the 2020 Bathurst 1000 in October. We wish the drivers, crews and all those behind the scenes the very best for the 2021 season.”
The current deal between Supercars, Foxtel and Network 10 was signed in late 2013, worth $241 million.
Reports suggest 10’s decision was due to declining ratings, the exit of Holden from Supercars, the impending exit of champion Scott McLaughlin, and competition for the same advertising dollars with Foxtel and Supercars sponsorship.
10’s confirmation follows the exit of 10’s Head of Sport Matthew White in May.
Seven held the Supercars contract from 1963 to 1993, and 2007 to 2014.
Source: AFR
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- Tagged with Bathurst 1000, V8 Supercars
12 Responses
Quite sad…hopefully 10 will have some sort of new sport deal in the future, no matter what it may be.
Sound strategy from ten. They can now use all that money for some format rights to prop up their entertainment (the circle please) and investing into some yearlong content for their main problem areas. It’s also a much better sell for their advertisers to be the only entertainment network with seasons that can play all year with no sport interruptions.
V8 Supercar racing is no longer relevant in Australia as Holden is no longer, leaving only one make of car left in this category. The cars underneath the outer shell bear no resemblance to the original road cars whatsoever. 10 is wise to pull out from Supercars and spend their money elsewhere.
Sad to see Channel 10 leave V8 Supercars after 6 years. I enjoyed watching the big races, especially the Bathurst 1000. I will miss 10’s coverage.
The coverage will be exactly the same, apart from the presenters.
Think 10/CBS are very strategic here. Why pay big bucks for sports in this uncertain world.
All ViacomCBS 10 need to do is walk away from the rugby deal now. David would really love to know the synergies between 10 and Channel 5 in the UK. All reports suggesting management in the UK are running the show in Australia.
10 is part of ViacomCBS. AU management of 10, MTV and Nickelodeon is answerable to Maria Kyriacou, president, ViacomCBS Networks U.K. & Australia.
just got KAYO only for the Supercars, well worth my $15 a month
Plus all the other live sport. FTA is irrelevant when it comes to sports these days.
Wasn’t the ABC broadcasting the Supercars (then the ATCC) in the early 80s? I clearly remember Drew Morphett as the host for the Hang 10 400 (as the Sandown round was then called). This was just before 7 had the first ever camera in Peter WIlliamson’s Toyota Celica.
Ahhh that’s when motor racing was motor racing! Not the Scalextric version we see today sadly.
What was then the ATCC was split between the ABC & 7 until 1983. 1984 was covered by the ABC alone, then 7 took over with the change to Group A in 1985.
That first live racecam in Peter Williamson’s Celica was a few years earlier, at the 1979 Hardie-Ferodo 1000.
Haven’t really watched motor racing in years; V8 Supercars basically killed it for me.