North One TV 'Wins' World Rally Championships

North One Television and its subsidiary International Sportsworld Communicators (ISC) have concluded a long-term agreement with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) for television coverage and promotion of the World Rally Championship, (pictured here by Adam McCalden).
From the start of 2010 until the end of 2020, ISC will be the championship promoter as well as continuing as the holder of the global media and commercial rights.
The agreement was announced in Ireland in advance of the start of the 2009 WRC season there in January, with the latest rally in the season, in Cyprus, starting from Limassol on 12 March. It is the third in the 2009 series with Portugal coming next in April and the Norway Rally recently completed in February.
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.
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," he said.
Neil Duncanson, North One Chief Executive Officer 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."
(BMcC/JM)