BT Sport are to show MotoGP testing live, it has been confirmed today. BT Sport 2 will air live coverage on Monday 11th November from 13:00 to 15:00 and then from 10:00 to 12:00 the next day. This will also be simulcast on the channel’s app.
This is an interesting development. The difference between Dorna and Formula One Management (FOM) is huge where testing is concerned. Dorna produce a live feed for testing, whilst FOM produce a highlights package and that is about it. Remember that earlier this year, Sky filmed Formula 1 testing with their own cameras, which will cost significantly more than BT’s coverage of MotoGP on Monday. As confirmed by Mark Coyle, the channels Head of Digital Production on Twitter, BT will be taking the World Feed with commentary from the usual pairing of Gavin Emmett and Nick Harris, but BT themselves will be shooting other material in the paddock for online and supplementary programming.
Also, it is worth a reminder too that this is not the first time MotoGP testing has been broadcast live in the United Kingdom. Back in the mid 2000’s, Eurosport broadcast a one hour mini ’round 0′ session where I think the prize was a BMW bike. Very impressive and promising nevertheless to see BT Sport pulling out all the stops, only a day after the 2013 MotoGP season ends.
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Haha! Had that on to automatically publish, but foolishly forgot to write content, a doh moment me thinks.
Didn’t the BBC show live testing in 2009 when James Toseland was racing?
Good question! I don’t think they did, based on this blog post on the BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/sporteditors/2009/01/it_always_feels_like_a.html
I could have swore I saw it on the Red Button once. Oh well, silly me aha. Thanks for the info! Either way it’s great news from BT. Any word on who will be commentating and presenting next week?
The usual pairing – Emmett/Harris.