Foxtel inks multi-year broadcast extension with MotoGP

Australian pay-television broadcaster Foxtel has signed a multi-year rights extension for the MotoGP and Superbike World Championship which takes effect from 2022.

The agreement will ensure that every practice session, qualifying session, and race will continue to be shown live on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

Intriguingly, the deal encompasses a free-to-air component which is yet to be explained, but with channel Ten’s free-to-air rights ending this year, its likely there will be a ‘Kayo Freebies’ service for the category – similar to Foxtel’s new Netball Australia deal.

Foxtel has also renewed its television rights deal for the Superbike World Championship which, like MotoGP, is a property of Dorna Sports, with that agreement taking effect in 2023.

Foxtel chief content and commercial officer, Amanda Laing, said double-digit annual audience growth over the past six years played a major role in the broadcasters decision to renew the rights.

“The 2021 season is up 28 per cent on last year and featured the record-breaking MotoGP Spanish GP, won by Australian Jack Miller and watched by almost 180,000 fans,” she said.

“This exclusive multi-year deal sees us secure the free and paid rights with MotoGP and the exclusive renewal of our rights with World Superbikes, cementing our unrivalled motorsport offering and again highlighting Foxtel and Kayo as the go-to destinations for sports fans in Australia.”

Foxtel also broadcasts World Superbike, Supercars and Formula 1, plus World Rally Championship, NASCAR, INDYCAR and Formula E.