Eurosport on the verge of WRC deal
Discussion
Looks like Eurosport will be taking over the coverage of the WRC, which if their IRC stuff is anything to go on, will be brilliant IMO.
Not quite shared by Colin Clark though!
https://twitter.com/voiceofrally
What packages is Eurosport availible on as the WRC really needs to be on a free channel!
Not quite shared by Colin Clark though!
https://twitter.com/voiceofrally
What packages is Eurosport availible on as the WRC really needs to be on a free channel!
Allyc85 said:
Looks like Eurosport will be taking over the coverage of the WRC, which if their IRC stuff is anything to go on, will be brilliant IMO.
Not quite shared by Colin Clark though!
https://twitter.com/voiceofrally
What packages is Eurosport availible on as the WRC really needs to be on a free channel!
My mum gets it on Virgin, and she definitely doesn't pay for Sky Sports.Not quite shared by Colin Clark though!
https://twitter.com/voiceofrally
What packages is Eurosport availible on as the WRC really needs to be on a free channel!
C Lee Farquar said:
It was on Eurosport until about two years ago, half hour a day. A good program I thought.
I get it included in the standard Sky package, you don't need Sky sports
Only problem with it on eurosport was that it regularly wasn't shown at the scheduled time so if you recorded it, it was always a bit of a lottery as to whether you got the WRC to watch and if you did how much would be missing off the end I get it included in the standard Sky package, you don't need Sky sports
Should be good in HD though and repeated midweek.
ooo000ooo said:
Only problem with it on eurosport was that it regularly wasn't shown at the scheduled time so if you recorded it, it was always a bit of a lottery as to whether you got the WRC to watch and if you did how much would be missing off the end
Yes, same with Dakar coverage. The early morning repeat is usually more reliable. I tended to record the program after the WRC as well and the one before if not too long.Fingers crossed as I have a Eurosport player subscription for the bike racing. WRC would go nice with the IRC.
Do I remember correctly that Eurosport is in the News Bouquet on Sky and is only 1 or 2 quid a month? Never had Sky but I'm sure my mate gets it that way
Do I remember correctly that Eurosport is in the News Bouquet on Sky and is only 1 or 2 quid a month? Never had Sky but I'm sure my mate gets it that way
Edited by Mr. Potato Head on Saturday 7th January 09:29
ooo000ooo said:
Only problem with it on eurosport was that it regularly wasn't shown at the scheduled time so if you recorded it, it was always a bit of a lottery as to whether you got the WRC to watch and if you did how much would be missing off the end
This is the case with pretty much anything on Eurosport - their scheduling is little more than a guide if you are not watching Tennis or winter sports. An example last year was when I recorded the LeMans magazine show via Sky+ and got 6 minutes of it and almost half an hour of Tennis. If Sky programming falls outside its scheduled time slots then it still picks up the show, but on Eurosport it just gives you the time slot. Always record the programme after as well just in case 
Story on Autosport:
www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96911
www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96911
Autosport said:
Negotiations for Qatar to invest in the World Rally Championship have broken down, leaving Eurosport set to step in and take over the television and promotion of the series.
While no official announcements have been made, AUTOSPORT has seen internal correspondence from WRC promoter North One Sport confirming that the potential deal with Qatar is off. The Qatar deal, which was reckoned to have been worth millions of pounds over the coming years, was North One Sport's only hope of continuing as the promoter. The firm's parent company, Convers Sports Initiatives, went into administration at the end of last year.
The loss of the potential investor will cost around 40 full-time jobs and a further 20 on-event freelance staff in the world championship. North One Sport is expected to be closed as of Monday.
It is rumoured the FIA terminated North One Sport's contract as WRC rights-holder last night.
A North One source said: "It's unbelievable. We have come so close to landing this. The deal was on the table and, believe me, it would have been by far and away the best thing for the sport and for the World Rally Championship.
"What is desperately disappointing, after working so hard for 11 years on the WRC, is that nobody from the FIA picked up a phone and talked to us - and goodness knows we tried to call them. We were treated with complete contempt. I find it extraordinary given what the new investor could have done. It's a very sad day."
The FIA was unavailable for comment when contacted by AUTOSPORT last night.
I find the bit about the Qatar deal being the 'best thing for the sport' interesting, I wonder what sort of TV coverage that would have meant? As it stands we'll be better off than last year with the new Eurosport deal, given that ESPN is an extra £12 a month on top of the Sky package. While no official announcements have been made, AUTOSPORT has seen internal correspondence from WRC promoter North One Sport confirming that the potential deal with Qatar is off. The Qatar deal, which was reckoned to have been worth millions of pounds over the coming years, was North One Sport's only hope of continuing as the promoter. The firm's parent company, Convers Sports Initiatives, went into administration at the end of last year.
The loss of the potential investor will cost around 40 full-time jobs and a further 20 on-event freelance staff in the world championship. North One Sport is expected to be closed as of Monday.
It is rumoured the FIA terminated North One Sport's contract as WRC rights-holder last night.
A North One source said: "It's unbelievable. We have come so close to landing this. The deal was on the table and, believe me, it would have been by far and away the best thing for the sport and for the World Rally Championship.
"What is desperately disappointing, after working so hard for 11 years on the WRC, is that nobody from the FIA picked up a phone and talked to us - and goodness knows we tried to call them. We were treated with complete contempt. I find it extraordinary given what the new investor could have done. It's a very sad day."
The FIA was unavailable for comment when contacted by AUTOSPORT last night.
The problem for the FiA and Jean Todt was that Qatar were backing NorthOneSport.......
The WRC Promoter deal was already made before he became FiA President - and he didn't like it/them. I get the feeling the CSI/NOS issue is just the excuse the FiA have been looking for, so they can end the NOS contract.
What worries me is all the current contracts that NOS had - what happens now? TV, media, timing, website, etc The season starts in less than 2 weeks. The WRC lurches from one crisis to another almost weekly.
The WRC Promoter deal was already made before he became FiA President - and he didn't like it/them. I get the feeling the CSI/NOS issue is just the excuse the FiA have been looking for, so they can end the NOS contract.
What worries me is all the current contracts that NOS had - what happens now? TV, media, timing, website, etc The season starts in less than 2 weeks. The WRC lurches from one crisis to another almost weekly.
ker!The North One Sport saga continues:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96934
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96934
Autosport said:
Further concerns have been cast over the World Rally Championship and next week's opening round, after it emerged that essential timing and tracking equipment might not be available for use on the Monte Carlo Rally.
Stage One Technology, the firm which provides timing and tracking systems, has sent the hardware to Valence for the start of the event. But it has subsequently been contacted by North One Sport's legal team in an effort to stop the kit being used due to an ongoing legal battle between the two.
S1T is owed close to £1m by NOS, but the former's managing director Simon de Banke has written to NOS pledging to pay £10,000 for the equipment and to turn his firm into a 100 per cent non-profit organisation with all proceeds of its activities going to the Make A Wish Foundation.
In the letter, de Banke said: "As you know, Stage One Technology is owed a substantial sum of money by North One Sport which has put the jobs of the passionate S1T team, and those of its suppliers on the line. When it became clear that it was unlikely we would be able to be paid, we gave you notice that we would seize the timing and tracking systems in order to at least allow us the opportunity to continue to trade should the worst happen and you were unable to find a firm offer to buy NOS before time ran out.
"Stage One Technology is a small, independent company which employs a team of people - most of which have worked on the WRC systems for most of its 10-year history - who don't care about the politics or the commercials.
"The systems are valueless to you. There is only one team of people in the world who knows how to turn them on! Only two human beings alive who know how to repair them when they go wrong. These people are part of our team."
De Banke went on to insist that the financial wrangling between the two parties is of little interest to him.
"Whilst I will fight to the death to protect my amazing, humble, diligent, professional and hard working people, I do not care to personally profit from this disappointing situation," he said.
"So without prejudice to our current position that we are the party with the best claim to the equipment, I make NOS the following proposal. If by 1pm today (10 January 2012), you write to confirm you will not seek to assert any right, title or interest over these (valueless to you/the creditors of NOS) systems, and that you will not seek any kind of damages against Stage One Technology or its associated companies, staff or directors relating to their continued use and possession of the equipment, I pledge to turn Stage One Technology into a 100 per cent non-profit organisation, which will put absolutely every penny of its profits into worthwhile causes, such as the incredible Make A Wish foundation, to give kids whose daily routine make everything we're dealing with now seem like a weekend in the Bahamas."
NOS was unable to comment on the situation or on the potential for S1T to use the equipment next week, due to its ongoing legal position.
While S1T has provided the World Rally Championship with its tracking and timing equipment for a decade, the Monte Carlo Rally has run with its own systems for the last three years while part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. It is understood those same systems are now on standby for next week.
Stage One Technology, the firm which provides timing and tracking systems, has sent the hardware to Valence for the start of the event. But it has subsequently been contacted by North One Sport's legal team in an effort to stop the kit being used due to an ongoing legal battle between the two.
S1T is owed close to £1m by NOS, but the former's managing director Simon de Banke has written to NOS pledging to pay £10,000 for the equipment and to turn his firm into a 100 per cent non-profit organisation with all proceeds of its activities going to the Make A Wish Foundation.
In the letter, de Banke said: "As you know, Stage One Technology is owed a substantial sum of money by North One Sport which has put the jobs of the passionate S1T team, and those of its suppliers on the line. When it became clear that it was unlikely we would be able to be paid, we gave you notice that we would seize the timing and tracking systems in order to at least allow us the opportunity to continue to trade should the worst happen and you were unable to find a firm offer to buy NOS before time ran out.
"Stage One Technology is a small, independent company which employs a team of people - most of which have worked on the WRC systems for most of its 10-year history - who don't care about the politics or the commercials.
"The systems are valueless to you. There is only one team of people in the world who knows how to turn them on! Only two human beings alive who know how to repair them when they go wrong. These people are part of our team."
De Banke went on to insist that the financial wrangling between the two parties is of little interest to him.
"Whilst I will fight to the death to protect my amazing, humble, diligent, professional and hard working people, I do not care to personally profit from this disappointing situation," he said.
"So without prejudice to our current position that we are the party with the best claim to the equipment, I make NOS the following proposal. If by 1pm today (10 January 2012), you write to confirm you will not seek to assert any right, title or interest over these (valueless to you/the creditors of NOS) systems, and that you will not seek any kind of damages against Stage One Technology or its associated companies, staff or directors relating to their continued use and possession of the equipment, I pledge to turn Stage One Technology into a 100 per cent non-profit organisation, which will put absolutely every penny of its profits into worthwhile causes, such as the incredible Make A Wish foundation, to give kids whose daily routine make everything we're dealing with now seem like a weekend in the Bahamas."
NOS was unable to comment on the situation or on the potential for S1T to use the equipment next week, due to its ongoing legal position.
While S1T has provided the World Rally Championship with its tracking and timing equipment for a decade, the Monte Carlo Rally has run with its own systems for the last three years while part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. It is understood those same systems are now on standby for next week.
NOS had their chance and it didnt work. The ending has been a complete mess and has been done in totally the wrong way, but I feel the sport will sort its self out, just not this year like I had hoped 
Colin Clark says on Twitter...
"Had it confirmed, Eurosport deal was stalling because of lack of a long term deal. That’s now resolved, deal is for 3yrs starting at Monte!"
Please let this be true and confirmed so we can begin to move on from this disgraceful mess!
Colin Clark says on Twitter...
"Had it confirmed, Eurosport deal was stalling because of lack of a long term deal. That’s now resolved, deal is for 3yrs starting at Monte!"
Please let this be true and confirmed so we can begin to move on from this disgraceful mess!
Seem to be getting close to a Eurosport deal- from Autosport:
Eurosport on the verge of World Rally Championship TV deal - The FIA's World Rally Championship television agreement with Eurosport is expected to be revealed later today.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96975
Eurosport on the verge of World Rally Championship TV deal - The FIA's World Rally Championship television agreement with Eurosport is expected to be revealed later today.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/96975
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