SailGP on ITV
June 14, 2023
By Nik Roseveare
SailGP has announced of a free-to-air broadcast deal with ITV. Exclusive live coverage of nine event weekends will be shown on ITVX in the first standalone live sports commission for ITV’s streaming service. Additionally, all events in Season 4 of SailGP will be available across the ITV digital and linear network, including ITV1, ITV4 and ITVX.
SailGP is launching its biggest season ever opening with the Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix at Navy Pier, in Chicago, on June 16th and 17th, which will be streamed live on ITVX in the first of 18 live 90-minute race day shows on the platform. National teams in the mixed gender championship will race at 12 iconic venues around the world across 2023 and 2024.
After Chicago the action will head to Los Angeles with highlights for both events broadcast on ITV4 and live racing all weekend on ITVX. Later this summer the league will then head to Europe and the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez will be shown on ITV1.
A full highlights show of the Season 4 Grand Final in San Francisco will also be seen on ITV1. All other events in the season will have highlights programmes broadcast on ITV4.
The SailGP Season 4 events in Sydney, Auckland and Canada will be shown on ITV4 on delay to ensure the best possible viewing times for UK-based fans. All other events can be watched in full either live or on-demand on ITVX, along with coverage of SailGP’s behind the scenes series Racing on the Edge.
SailGP global head of broadcast and media, Tom Gracey, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the team at ITV to bring SailGP to more UK fans than ever across their linear and digital suite of channels, with Sir Ben Ainslie, Hannah Mills and the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team taking on the world’s best. ITV are renowned at bringing the biggest sporting moments to audiences across the country and we’re excited to be part of their premium sports output for Season 4. We’re looking forward to continuing to re-imagine the sport of sailing and building on our significant growth trajectory through an integrated partnership with ITV.”
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, added: “We hope viewers will enjoy being able to watch, live and free to air, one of the most exciting and glamorous events in sailing. With live coverage across 18 days throughout the season, coming from fantastic locations across the world, available on ITVX as well as highlights on ITV4 and ITV1, there is an opportunity for our audiences to engage with all the action and we’re delighted to be partnering with SailGP to bring viewers each event, starting this Friday in Chicago.”