MotoGP Set to be Seen Free-to-Air in New Zealand after Sommet Sports TV Broadcast Deal

MotoGP is set to be free-to-air in New Zealand Sommet Sports TV snatched the broadcasting rights from Sky.

The new Freeview outfit, whose channel is provisionally up and running but set to launch officially in 10 days, will offer live coverage of the 2013 MotoGP series and highlights programmes.

The development confirms a second sporting asset has been wrestled from Sky Television, 16 days after the subscription giant dramatically lost the New Zealand broadcast rights for the English Premier League football to previously unknown group Coliseum Sports Media.

Having previously dominated New Zealand’s sport broadcast market, Sky’s share price plunged 6.2 per cent off the back of the football loss.

Sky had been publicly struggling to reach a new MotoGP deal with commercial rights holder Dorna Sports for months, with fans already missing out on the first seven stages of 2013’s 18-round series.

Mark Cathie, general manager of Sommet Sports, which came second to Coliseum in the Premier League race, said his organisation had stepped in on MotoGP, confirming New Zealanders would now be able to access motorcycling’s top championship and without subscription TV.

“This announcement will be a relief to many, following uncertainty about the future of MotoGP coverage in New Zealand,” Cathie said.

“MotoGP has some of the most diehard sports fans in New Zealand and we’ll be pulling out all the stops to make sure they’re not disappointed.”

Manel Arroyo, Dorna’s Managing Director Media Area said: “We look forward to starting our new cooperation with Sommet Sports at such an exciting point in the Championship. After working hard over the past few months, we are very pleased to have secured this agreement which will mean that MotoGP fans in New Zealand will be able to watch the remainder of the 2013 season live on free-to-air television.”