Slovenia's Šport TV to air Extreme E
Brand new electric off-road championship, Extreme E, has signed a broadcast deal with Slovenia’s sport-only public television channel, Šport TV.
The station, based in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, will televise Extreme E’s races live and in English on its linear channels, Šport TV 1, Šport TV 2 and Šport TV 3. In addition viewers will be able to enjoy coverage on the broadcaster’s digital platform Sport_TV. Extreme E’s behind the scenes documentary shows, Climate Changers and The Electric Dream, will also be available on the channel’s video-on-demand collection.
Slovenia is known as one of the cleanest, most sustainable countries in the world. Not to mention it is also one of the most bio-diverse with over 53% of its total land mass devoted entirely to protected forest. In addition, the capital, Ljubljana has also been awarded ‘Europe’s Greenest’ by the European Union. Given all of this, it’s no surprise that electric vehicles sales are on the rise amongst the population, made even more attractive thanks to an increase in charging points in non-urban areas and government tax breaks for EV drivers.
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “We are delighted to be bringing our exciting broadcast package to Slovenia with Šport TV. Not only does this nation love its sport, it also shares many of Extreme E’s core values, including the importance of reducing carbon emissions through electric vehicle technology.
“I am confident that the combination of Extreme E’s thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing combined with its sport for purpose mission, will totally capture the imagination of Šport TV’s audience. I can’t wait to bring the action to them when we go racing in Saudi Arabia in just 10 day’s time.”
Marko Bogovac, General Manager at Šport TV, said: “We constantly offer new and interesting sports content to our audience, and at the same time, Šport TV is recognised as a national sports channel dedicated to providing added value to the society as a whole. This electric off-road championship is an excellent example of endorsing values that are highly appreciated in Slovenia, such as sustainability, green economy and the importance of reducing carbon emissions. We are happy that through this partnership we will have another opportunity to work together towards a great cause.”
Extreme E will go racing in April 2021, with nine entries confirmed, which include Segi TV Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti United (USA); Veloce Racing, JBXE by Jenson Button and X44 by Lewis Hamilton (UK); ABT CUPRA XE and Rosberg X Racing (Germany); Hispano Suiza XITE Energy Team and ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team (Spain).
The championship will race across the world’s most remote environments to demonstrate the performance and benefits of electric vehicles and clean technology, whilst highlighting the impact that climate change is already having on these ecosystems, such as melting ice caps, deforestation, desertification, retreating mountain glaciers, plastic pollution and rising sea levels.
Extreme E’s first race is set to take place in AlUla, Saudi Arabia (3-4 April), before heading to Lac Rose, Senegal (29-30 May), Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August), Para, Brazil (23-24 October) and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).
The series also has a unique viewing format, as races will be held without spectators and broadcasted as two-hour programs, in a bid to reduce the championship’s carbon footprint. In addition, the championship is transporting equipment for the race by sea on its floating centrepiece, St. Helena, which is now in Saudi Arabia.
