North One Television and its subsidiary ISC concluded a long term agreement with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) for the World Rally Championship.
From the start of 2010 until the end of 2020 ISC will be the Championship Promoter as well as the holder of the global media and commercial rights.
The agreement, which is being finalised by the respective legal teams and the terms of which will be put to the FIA World Motor Sport Council for ratification, was announced in Ireland on Thursday in advance of the start of the 2009 WRC
season.
Since 1996, ISC has licensed the FIA's media rights to the Championship but responsibility for the promotion of the events has been divided between ISC, the FIA and the event organisers themselves.
North One acquired ISC in October 2007 having operated as its exclusive television partner since 2000.
Last year, the FIA World Motor Sport Council agreed to appoint a single global promoter to take responsibility for developing interest and participation in the Championship and raising its global profile. An open tendering process followed with the winning tender selected by a panel made up of event Organisers, the World Rally Championship Commission and representatives of the FIA.
WRC is at a watershed moment in its development, with the appointment of the Championship Promoter, new technical regulations designed to cut costs and encourage more competitors and a new promotion and marketing plan about to be rolled out to attract new levels of interest and investment.
ISC believes the sport can be one of the premier sports entertainment brands of the future - an epic motorsport adventure featuring the world’s greatest drivers.
Max Mosley, FIA President, said: “We received significant interest in this tender but ISC, with its experience in rallying and its ambitious plans for the Championship, proved a worthy winner. We can now look forward with a great deal of optimism as ISC implements its comprehensive strategy for the Championship’s future.”
Neil Duncanson, North One CEO and ISC Chairman, said: “This represents the start of a new era for the sport – a genuine opportunity for everyone involved in WRC to work together to build something special for the future. We are really excited about the challenge, especially reaching out to new rally fans as our media landscape morphs into the digital age.”
