Strong interest in TT at major TV conference
Friday 23 October 2009
TT
There was major interest in the Isle of Man TT during a leading international television rights conference in Monaco.
North One Television, which films the TT, exhibited at Sportel, the global television sports conference held annually in Monaco. The conference, which is Europe’s main sales conference for sports television and new media is attended by all the major global television companies, production companies and sporting rights holders.
There were 159 different exhibitors at the event, which was held in the Grimaldi Forum, and the TT was shown alongside other events, such as the World Rally Championship, for which North One Television’s ISC company is the rights holder.
All of the world’s leading sports and events were represented during the four-day event.
This year 2,247 delegates representing 938 companies from 68 countries worldwide attended the event, and they were treated to a close up of Steve Plater’s Senior TT-winning bike, which made the journey from the Honda race team in Lincolnshire to the conference.
The bike was positioned on the North One TV stand, which also showed DVDs of North One TV’s award winning TT footage. The team met a number of broadcasters on the stand and reported that interest in the TT was growing significantly.
Dave White, Head of Sport from Australia’s Channel Ten,gave his feedback on the TT shows that they broadcast this year.
He said:
‘We were absolutely delighted with the TT programmes which I felt gave us some of the strongest sports footage this year. We are already looking into getting Cameron Donald to front some promotional trailers for us next year and take part in a promotional campaign for us.’
Following the success of this year’s programmes on ITV and ITV4 the station has confirmed they will also simulcast their shows on itv.com, which will assist anyone affected by the loss of ITV4 from the freeview platform and boost the potential UK audience.
Summarising the four day event, North One TV’s Chief Executive Neil Duncanson said:
‘There is definitely growing interest in the TT Races from television executives and we are already in negotiation with new companies and countries about taking the 2010 Races. Although it is early days yet we have already had tremendous interest from major broadcasters including representatives from Asia and Eastern Europe.'
'I am also delighted to confirm that every single broadcaster that showed last year’s races has renewed for next year which is almost unheard of in the industry and proves that they are really happy with the event.'
Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle added:
‘This is great news for the TT and the Isle of Man and the increased potential audience for TT2010 will only further help us to achieve our economic and commercial aspirations, both for the TT Races and the Isle of Man as a whole.’