Red Bull Rookies Cup pre season test, Aragon. 4th-6th April 2017 (Red Bull Content Pool)
Tata Communications has been selected as the exclusive video distribution partner for two of the biggest motorcycling championships, the FIM MotoGP World Championship and the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Chosen by Dorna Sports, the partnership doubles Dorna’s existing network capacity for the reliable distribution of live video feeds for fans to enjoy the action in real-time.
The deal means that coverage of next week’s MotoGP’s Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas, will include 360-degree, low-latency ultra-high definition (UHD) and live over-the-top (OTT) video feeds for fans which will be beamed out to over 80 broadcast partners around the world, reaching an audience of more than 200 million households.
Dorna Sports, who has been the exclusive commercial and television rights holder for MotoGP since 1992, are now also able to handle broadcast operations remotely from a newly-built media hub in Barcelona, Spain, thanks to this partnership. In addition, media partners producing live programs from the circuits can use Tata Communications’ network for global video delivery.
“There is a huge opportunity for sports to bring fans closer to the action through technologies such as UHD and live OTT video,” Brian Morris, Vice President and General Manager, Global Media and Entertainment Services at Tata Communications, said in a statement. “Yet, all these innovations rely on global superfast connectivity over fibre. We look forward to working with Dorna to bring the excitement of each race of the 2017 season to people around the world, and exploring together new services to quench fans’ thirst for more immersive racing experiences in the future.”
“This partnership with Tata Communications represents a new, exciting step in how we manage the distribution of each race to our broadcast partners worldwide,” Manel Arroyo, Managing Director, Media and Communications Area at Dorna, said in a statement. “We will use the company’s global media, connectivity and cloud capabilities to bring together the different parts of our broadcast operations. This, coupled with Tata Communications’ experience in the high-pressure world of motorsports, will strengthen our ability to give MotoGP and WorldSBK fans the high-quality, exhilarating viewing experiences they crave.”
