Speedway European Championship attracted a lot of interest in its debut year of Eurosport coverage, not just amongst fans in Poland, but also in other countries that are reached by the platform. The revamped format of the competition, which was taken over by Torun based One Sport this year, has received very positive feedback from riders and experts.
The main objectives that were set out by organisers of SEC were to lift its prestige and make it an attractive proposition for riders to compete in the European Championship, by promoting the series in Poland and abroad.
Eurosport, which has been the exclusive broadcaster of the SEC, transmitted the series to over 70 countries in Europe and Asia Pacific. Average ratings of the four final rounds, held in Gdansk, Togliatti, Gorican, and Rzeszow, amounted to 210.000* viewers in Poland, and nearly a million** in the rest of Europe.
International transmission range covered 16.7 million, and 29 million*** including repeats.
The most interesting was the last round of the battle for the European title, which took place in Rzeszow on 29th September. In Poland the transmission was watched by 273.000 viewers, and 1.2 million viewers globally. The potential audience for the competition that was held in the heart of the Podkarpacia region was 7.5 million viewers.
“The results that have been achieved on such a scale for a speedway debut for Eurosport, shows the potential of this sport. I think the growing global audience of the SEC confirms the shale sport status in Poland, and the growing interest in other countries,” said Radek Jaworski , Director of Communications Eurosport Poland .
The high viewing figures were not only achieved by the exciting competition, in which the race of for the title was undecided until the very end, but also the production. Innovative solutions were implemented – including shots from Go Pro cameras placed on helmets and bikes, and on board shots just above the surface of the track.
“The first season of the new version European Championship showed that it is worth investing in this project. We managed to achieve the main objectives that we set out to do. For us this was only the first step, and we have plenty more surprises to come, in our aim to create a motorsport show of the highest level”, said Karol Lejman of One Sport.
The speedway transmissions on Eurosport are also an excellent way to promote the cities and regions where the competition takes place. Through the partnership with the international sports channel millions of people all over the World can see the most beautiful places in Torun (where, in June, Eurosport broadcast the Best Pairs competition at the Moto Arena), Gdansk, and Rzeszow.
* Source: Nielsen Audience Measurement .
** Source: AGF / GfK , BARB , SKO , MMS, TNS- Gallup, Kantar Media, NAM , Armadata / halter – Techedge. The channel does not have the viewing figures from the Asia -Pacific region.
*** Range : The number of viewers who saw the program for at least 60 seconds
