BTCC gets TV deal boost

The channel has covered the series for the past four seasons with some rounds covered live, with the remaining featured in a special programme the following week. But this year will be the first time in the series' history that there will be live coverage from every round on British terrestrial television.

The coverage will take a similar form to the live broadcasts this season, with at least one of the three races being shown live with action from the other two being shown 'as-live' in the same programme.

BTCC series director Alan Gow believes the fact that ITV is willing to make such a big commitment to the sport endorses the sport's standing as a crowd puller.

Gow told autosport.com: "ITV obviously believe in the BTCC because otherwise they wouldn't show it. We had a cumulative audience of 20 million over the last season with late night repeats and we expect at least a 20 per cent increase this season with every round showing live.

"I have no worries about dates where we clash with Formula One. Grand Prix time zones are different and our schedule is more flexible. This is the best television deal the series has ever had."

ITV Sport will continue to produce the broaddcast for ITV1, as well as the BTCC's international TV coverage. Exact details of ITV1's BTCC broadcast times, as well as the championship's satellite coverage and other programming, will be released at a later date.

The deal does not affect satellite channel Motors TV's live broadcast from TOCA meetings.