The 32nd America's Cup will be broadcast live on German television by ARD and ZDF in 2007. The TV contract marks a milestone, as the public broadcasters will also be broadcasting reports from all the pre-regattas and the Louis Vuitton Cup - a first in the history of the world's oldest sporting trophy.
While live reports of the Cup final off Auckland in New Zealand were only shown on ARD in 2003 thanks to the support of BMW, the upcoming series will be broadcast on an unprecedented scale. This is because the agreement, which was announced today at boot Düsseldorf, also stipulates minimum broadcasting times.
"This is a great opportunity for the America's Cup," said Michel Bonnefous, CEO of the America's Cup organisers. "This agreement is important for the event and for the teams because it shows a great commitment on the part of ARD and ZDF.
For the applicants from the German Fresh17 syndicate, it could be an important help in the search for sponsors - because until now, there have only been declarations of intent. This is now different: the contract creates facts and significantly increases the value of a Cup commitment for supporting companies - which also benefits BMW (BMW-Oracle Racing) and T-Systems (Team Shosholoza), who are already among the challengers.
The agreement between the America's Cup and the public broadcasters means that the broadcasters will not only report on the America's Cup in their news and sports programmes, but will also broadcast 26-minute clips of the daily highlights of all ten upcoming pre-regattas, the so-called "acts", until 2007. The agreement also guarantees that at least 60 hours of live coverage of the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger series and the 32nd America's Cup match will be broadcast in 2007.
"The number of people we can reach through this collaboration is of the utmost importance to us," explains Daniel Herrera, Communications Director of the America's Cup. "The German television market is one of the most important in the world and the largest in Europe. That's why we are very happy to bring the America's Cup to ARD and ZDF and to broadcast live coverage of the America's Cup with them."
For the first time, ARD and ZDF will be reporting from the Louis Vuitton Acts 4 and 5 in Valencia from the spring, where at least eight challenger teams will be racing off the Spanish Mediterranean coast alongside the America's Cup defenders from the Swiss team Alinghi. Exact TV broadcast times will be announced in a few months' time.
Background information on the realisation and significance of the deal, which YACHT reported on exclusively in November, will follow shortly here on YACHT online!
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
