Formula E is forecating a global TV audience of more than 200 million people for its inaugural season after signging a free-to-air broadcast agreement with CCTV-5 -- the main sports channel in China and part of the China Central Television network. The deal will see the station broadcast all 10 Formula E races in full together with a regular highlights package and live coverage of the Beijing ePrix. The announcement was made as members of the Chinese Government together with city officials and local dignitaries gathered in Beijing on Tuesday for a ceremony to welcome the new all-electric FIA Formula E Championship, and to launch the Beijing ePrix set for Sept. 13 (Formula E). FORBES' Christian Sylt reported Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said he is “aiming to get a cumulative live audience of 205,894,000 which is not huge but is not bad. So an average of 20 million per race.” In contrast, F1 had a worldwide TV audience of 450 million last year and "ironically lost 50 million viewers due to it dropping the national broadcasters in China and France." In '13, F1 "lost more of its TV audience in China than any other country with the number of unique viewers -- anyone who watched at least 15 non-consecutive minutes of the series -- falling by 29.8 million to 48.9 million." Formula E "should not have any difficulty attracting local interest in China" as it kicks off with a race around the facilities used for the 2008 Olympics including Beijing’s famous Bird’s Nest stadium (FORBES, 5/27).
