CYCLING: Cycling Australia is pleased to reveal details of an unprecedented two-year broadcast partnership with the Nine Network and FOX SPORTS.
The partnership, which runs to the end of 2016, will see road, track and mountain bike showcased on both the free-to-air network and subscription service Foxtel via a combination of live and delayed scheduling, and event highlights packages.
“We are delighted to enter into partnership with these two great broadcasters and market our sport to millions of passionate sporting fans,” said Cycling Australia CEO Nick Green.
“It is certainly an exciting time for Cycling Australia and cycling in Australia, as this partnership proves, and it is fantastic to be able to treat sport and cycling fans with a smorgasbord of cycling over the coming years.”
Nightly highlights packages will be broadcast for the MARS Road National, Subaru Track National and Subaru Mountain Bike National Championships, with the men’s road race to be broadcast live.
This week's Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic, February's Jayco Herald Sun Tour, in addition to Australia’s premier domestic series, the Cycling Australia’s Subaru 2015 National Road Series, will also feature across both networks.
“The partnership is certain to further elevate the rising status of our sport at a domestic level through our events including the National Championships and National Series events,” Green added.
“We are pleased to be able to again deliver the men’s road race at the National Championships live and, for the first time ever, we will bring a highlights package of the women’s road race while also increasing the coverage of women’s cycling through new events on the Subaru NRS.”
With over four million Australians riding their bikes on a weekly basis, and millions more following the results of our athletes across the globe each year, Cycling Australia is eager to capitalise on the increased visibility.
“We are now in an unparalleled position to be able to market our sport to many demographics throughout Australia on a regular basis across four major networks within Australia in 2015,” said Green, referencing both Channel Seven’s broadcast of the Cadel Evans’ Great Ocean Road Race in January, and SBS’ continued coverage of international cycling events.
“This will put cycling into the living rooms of millions more Australian homes, and we look forward to engaging with these fans to grow cycling from the grass-roots through to the elite level,” Green said.
In addition to the broadcast schedule, Cycling Australia will integrate the highlights packages across its digital platform.
Green was also quick to praise long-term supporters SBS who have provided unwavering commitment to the sport, which is set to continue.
“We would like to thank SBS for providing a great service as our official broadcast partner for so many years and would encourage all Australian’s to continue to tune in as they provide coverage of the Grand Tours and other great international events.”
The Nine Network’s Wide World of Sport host, Ken Sutcliffe said, “with so many Australian cyclists excelling on the world stage and cycling’s popularity growing throughout the country, we are privileged to be able to bring the sport and its heroes straight into Australian households.”
FOX SPORTS CEO, Patrick Delany, reiterated with, “Cycling is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and the FOX SPORTS partnership provides the many thousands of cycling fans with the opportunity to see more of the sport they love.
“Through FOX SPORTS, on Foxtel, fans can follow the season from now right throughout 2015 including marquee events such as the Australian Road and Track Championships and the National Road Series.”
Cycling Australia Release
