Velocity Is the New Home in the U.S. and Canada for Live Flag-to-Flag Coverage of the Iconic 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
By: Tori Hartshorn Apr. 19, 2018
Velocity, in partnership with Discovery, Inc. owned Eurosport, announced today a new multi-year agreement to become the exclusive U.S. and Canadian home for live flag-to-flag coverage of the 24 HOURS OF LE MANS beginning with this year's race on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17. Under the agreement, Velocity and Motor Trend will also live broadcast the full FIA WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP (WEC) "Super Season", which begins with the Spa-Francorchamps event this May and culminates with the 24 HOURS OF LE MANS June 15-16, 2019.
"Without question the 24 HOURS OF LE MANS is the most iconic auto racing event in the world," said Robert S. Scanlon, President of Velocity and Motor Trend Group Video Content. "Eurosport produces world-class live coverage of the event every year. Nowhere else in the U.S. or Canada can fans access their best-in-class coverage, and get a broader, richer Le Mans experience than with Velocity on television, MotorTrend.com online and the Motor Trend app on connected devices."
In the runup to this June's 24 HOURS OF LE MANS MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app will feature live practice and qualifying sessions to audiences in the U.S. and Canada. During Velocity's live broadcast of the 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, the direct-to-consumer platform will deepen the viewing experience with digital only extensions including onboard race car cameras, pit lane cameras, audio of team communications and real-time scoring updates.
The coverage extensions will be available to audiences in the U.S. and in Canada on MotorTrend.com, and by using the Motor Trend app on millions of connected devices via IOS/Apple TV, Google Play, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast and Amazon platforms. Fans can also find additional editorial coverage of the WEC "Super Season" on the Velocity and Motor Trend social media channels.
Velocity's live coverage will consist of the full 24 HOURS OF LE MANS in 2018 and 2019 and the 1000 MILES OF SEBRING in March 2019, as well as the start and finish of the additional WEC events. The Motor Trend direct-to-consumer platform will provide viewers with full live coverage each additional WEC "Super Season" event in 2018-2019.
The full WEC 2018-2019 "Super Season" schedule follows:
TOTAL 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
May 3-5
*Full live coverage on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app with first and last hour live on Velocity
24 HOURS OF LE MANS
June 16-17
*Live Coverage on Velocity plus live qualifying and practice sessions on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app
6 HOURS OF SILVERSTONE
August 17-19
*Full live coverage on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app with first and last hour live on Velocity
6 HOURS OF FUJI
October 12-14
*Full live coverage on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app with first and last hour live on Velocity
6 HOURS OF SHANGHAI
November 16-18
*Full live coverage on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app with first and last hour live on Velocity
1000 MILES OF SEBRING
March 13-15, 2019
*Live Coverage on Velocity
TOTAL 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
May 2-4, 2019
*Full live coverage on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app with first and last hour live on Velocity
24 HOURS OF LE MANS
June 15-16, 2019
*Live Coverage on Velocity plus live qualifying and practice sessions on MotorTrend.com and the Motor Trend app
The 24 HOURS OF LE MANS and live coverage of WEC Events are produced for Velocity by Eurosport. In the U.S., David Lee is Vice President of Production for Velocity and Robert S. Scanlon is President of Velocity and Motor Trend Group Video Content.
About Velocity
Velocity is the only television brand that focuses on delivering automotive content to enthusiasts and viewers. Available in 73 million homes nationwide the fully HD network's programming is engaging, entertaining and informative, featuring the very best of the automotive world as told by top experts and personalities. Viewers can connect with Velocity on Facebook at facebook.com/VelocityTV, on Twitter @Velocity and on Instagram @Velocity. Velocity is a division of the Motor Trend Group, the largest automotive media company in the world that combines the power of Velocity with powerful automotive media brands including Motor Trend, Hot Rod, Roadkill, Automobile and more than 20 others.
About Discovery:
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps and Discovery Kids Play; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player and Motor Trend OnDemand; and digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media. Discovery's portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, Turbo/Velocity, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, as well as OWN: OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit www.corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.
About the FIA World Endurance Championship
The WEC is the most successful and fan-followed international sportscar championship in the world, offering motor manufacturers a real-world relevance to advances in road car design and crossover technology, performance and safety. Strong, stable regulations allow for complex yet beautiful sports prototypes, with technology from the latest in hybrid technology to sophisticated, independent chassis competing at the highest levels, and the world's leading luxury car marques going head-to-head in the GT categories. Over 35 cars are on track at the same time, leading to action, excitement, endless passing and entertainment for fans worldwide. The WEC offers teams, drivers, partners and stakeholders a unique stage on which to compete, at premier race circuits around the world. Ranked alongside the Olympics, the SUPER BOWL and the soccer World Cup, the cornerstone of the WEC remains one of the world's greatest sporting events, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June each year. The championship regularly contests an 8-round calendar across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East - a true World Championship. All races, with the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 1000 Miles of Sebring (approx. 8 hours), are 6 hours in duration.
TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
Follow on Twitter @fiawec, Instagram on fiawec_official and 'like' FIA WEC on Facebook - www.facebook.com/fiawec. All further information on www.fiawec.com.
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