Terrestrial ITV TV deal and new international programming confirmed by North One for 2009 TT Races.

New presenter line up for TT races TV offering -

North One Television, who have the television production, sales and distribution rights for the TT races to 2013, have confirmed a major deal with ITV to screen the 2009 TT races.

The deal will see 11 one-hour programmes on ITV 4 as well as two hour-long specials to be shown on the main ITV terrestrial station.

The impressive plans will see a one hour preview, a practice week special, highlights screened on all 7 days and two event review specials.

The programmes will be fronted by Irishman Craig Doyle, who is one of ITV’s main sports presenters. He will be joined on the shows by a new commentary and analyst team and the programmes will also feature well-known guests from the motorsport world. The series editor, Gerard Lane, performed a similar role for ITV’s multi award-winning coverage of Formula One

North One Chief Executive Neil Duncanson outlined the changes that fans can expect on TV.

“We’re putting together a really strong production team and we’ll be looking to get under the skin of this incredible event. There’s a great story that’s just waiting to be told.”

New high-end production techniques will be applied to the filming of the TT that will see more onboard and fixed cameras as well as an increased amount of specialist effects cameras, some mounted on walls and kerbs. The event will also feature new computer generated imagery that will explain the inner workings of the bikes and also allow fans to clearly track a rider’s progress around the course.

The event will be shot in high definition, the first motorsport event in the UK to be filmed in this way. The producers also plan to experiment with the latest ‘high motion’ camera technology that will allow fans to analyse every move that the riders make on the bikes.

North One has also struck a number of international television deals that will see dedicated TT programmes shown by renowned international broadcasters. Deals have already been agreed with Italy’s Rai TV, Globo in Brazil, Australia’s Channel Ten and leadings networks in Spain and the United States. Each of these stations will also run heavyweight promotional trailers featuring riders from their own countries. Further country specific deals are currently being negotiated in most leading countries.

Duncanson commented on the impact of the new international distribution for the TT;

“These deals are going to significantly raise the profile of the Isle of Man and the TT in these countries. Sports fans in many instances are going to get their first exposure to the event.”

Hon Martyn Quayle, MHK, Minister for Tourism and Leisure, commented:

“These new TV deals are going to give us the chance to showcase the Isle of Man as a tourism destination as well as raise the profile of the TT races. Millions of TV viewers around the world will enjoy seeing the exhilarating TT racing and the Island’s spectacular countryside and we are hoping that it will lead to an increase in the number of people visiting the island.”

Well I'm impressed by this. If the whole thing comes together it will raise the profile of the Island as a tourist destination and a place to do business!

It may take a couple of years to reap the benefits I expect, so we'd need to stick with it.

I won't say I told you so ... but ...

hope you are watching Don ......