US broadcaster CBS has agreed a three-year partnership with Formula E to show the all-electric racing series across the network’s platforms, in a deal that runs until 2022/23.
Throughout the 2020/21 campaign, CBS Sports will show every Formula E race in a 90-minute programme and offer ‘over 100 hours’ of live race coverage from the event that will take place in Santiago, Chile in January.
Aarti Dabas, Chief Media Officer of Formula E, explained: “CBS is a leading media network in the USA with an impressive multi-platform offering and a growing portfolio of premium international sports content. We are delighted to partner with them in an important market for the Formula E ecosystem.
“We will work closely with CBS to grow affinity with Americans for the most unpredictable racing series in the world. Together we will develop bespoke live content, highlights and other programming for the market, focused on drivers and teams, their rivalries and Formula E’s purpose of racing for better futures.”
The event, which is in its seventh season, features July races in New York and and London, which will be aired on the broadcaster’s commercial channels. CBS takes over the contract from Fox, which has offered the race series in the US since 2014/15.
“We are excited to add Formula E to our CBS Sports portfolio,” added CBS Sports Executive VP of Programming, Dan Weinberg.
“The innovative and thrilling races are a great fit for our live programming line-up. Formula E is a leader in the push to make sports more environmentally friendly, we’re proud to partner with such a progressive organization and bring great content to race fans across the U.S.”
Formula E has two US-based racing teams – BMW i Andretti Motorsport and Dragon-Penske Autosport – and the sport remains a popular market in the country. Fox and Discovery also carry Formula E’s sister series, Extreme E.
