Foxtel, the Australian pay-TV operator, has extended its rights deals to cover two top-tier motorcycling properties – the MotoGP and Superbike World Championships – in exclusive multi-year renewals.
The deals, which have been struck with Dorna Sports (the promoter of both competitions), extend Foxtel’s coverage of WorldSBK action in Australia from 2023 through 2026, while a five-year renewal is now in place for MotoGP, running from 2022 to 2027.
Foxtel will exclusively show all races and qualifying sessions live from both competitions, for the duration of the deal.
Both competitions will be available on linear Foxtel channels as well as on Kayo, the broadcaster’s dedicated streaming service.
Foxtel has been a long-standing broadcast partner of both series', although the arrangements have not always been exclusive – last year commercial network Ten showed MotoGP action as well, while public-service broadcaster SBS covered select WorldSBK rounds during the 2020 season.
Amanda Laing, chief content and commercial officer at Foxtel Group, said: “This exclusive multi-year deal sees us secure the free and paid rights with MotoGP and the exclusive renewal of our rights with World Superbikes, cementing our unrivalled motorsport offering and again highlighting Foxtel and Kayo as the go-to destinations for sports fans in Australia.”
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By GlobalDataFree coverage of MotoGP action could be provided through the Kayo Freebies section of the streaming service.
Dorna’s chief commercial officer, Manel Arroyo, added: “Our competitions will be available to the largest audience of fans across Australia and will benefit from the experience of the Foxtel Group in broadcasting motorsport competition, including WorldSBK and MotoGP.”
Foxtel, in addition to WorldSBK and MotoGP action, also holds rights to motorsport competitions such as the iconic Formula 1, and the local Supercars series.
Late last month meanwhile, Dorna posted a record loss of €94.5 million ($112.2 million) for the Covid-hit year of 2020.
However, the Spain-based company has claimed that the prospects for this year are much improved.
In addition to MotoGP and WorldSBK, the company is the promoter of the MotoE World Cup, a new electric motorcycling series, and the Moto2 and Moto3 support series.