The Extreme H hydrogen-powered off-road motor racing series has unveiled a significant media rights deal in India with Sony Pictures Networks (SPN).
An agreement between the two parties, unveiled today, builds on the previous tie-up SPN had with Extreme E, the predecessor of Extreme H (a four-year contract that ran through last year's final edition).
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This new deal will see SPN cover action from the upcoming inaugural edition of the Extreme H World Cup (a competition sanctioned by the FIA, motorsport’s governing body). In addition to live programming, there will also be highlights made available, all in English.
Extreme H describes the deal as covering “India and neighboring regions," with the agreement stretching across both linear and digital platforms.
The Extreme H World Cup does not, as yet, have a set of dates or a location assigned.
Extreme H is the hydrogen-based spinoff of Extreme E, which canceled the remainder of its 2024 season after events in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) and Scotland to prioritize the series’ transition to hydrogen.
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By GlobalDataThe FIA initially planned for Extreme H to become an official world championship for 2026, but in December last year, it announced the launch of the Extreme H World Cup in 2025 instead.
The new series will feature an off-road race format to showcase the viability of hydrogen power as a clean energy solution. Organizers will also prioritize gender parity within motorsports by fielding teams that have an equal number of male and female drivers.
Ali Russell, managing director of the Extreme H World Cup, said: “India is a crucial market for our global ambitions, and this collaboration allows us to share our message and technology with millions of new viewers, while inspiring a new generation of future-focused motorsport fans.”
This deal has been announced hot on the heels of a tie-up between Extreme H and international sports broadcaster ESPN, in Latin America. That rights agreement covers Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, and will see action aired in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
In December, meanwhile, Italian broadcaster Mediaset announced it would cover Extreme H this year, as it has done previously with Extreme E.
In terms of recent rights tie-ups by SPN, this month has seen a contract extension with the organizers of the Roland-Garros French grand slam tennis tournament (taking place currently).
The deal between SPN and the French Tennis Federation (FFT) governing body covers both linear and digital rights of the clay-court tournament through the 2027 edition.
