ALMS announces international TV distribution

The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n announced today yet another important development to its ever-growing broadcast and digital distribution package. The addition of these outlets brings the estimated international programming for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patr¢n to more than 750 million households, believed to be the largest worldwide distribution of any motorsports series in the world with the exception of Formula One.

An extensive and impactful distribution agreement with ESPN International has been confirmed in yet another “platform development" in the Series’ new ESPN on ABC relationship. The ESPN international networks and joint ventures will deliver a dedicated one-hour ALMS race highlights program to more than 160 million homes in 150 countries around the world beginning with this weekend’s Tequila Patr¢n American Le Mans Series at Long Beach.

In addition MotorsTV, a pan-European motorsports channel that has carried ALMS programming since 2005, and the Series have reached agreement for “live" coverage in Europe of seven of the eight remaining races as well as a postseason feature program, beginning with the third round of 2011 at Lime Rock Park (July 9). It will slot this week’s Tequila Patr¢n American Le Mans Series at Long Beach for later in May due to previous program commitments. MotorsTV does not hold international rights to Petit Le Mans, an ILMC round.

“High-quality international digital and television distribution of our sport is vital to us," said ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton. “We have an outstanding following of dedicated fans around the globe, and these commitments from both our new ESPN partner and one of our longest-running international television friends enable us to demonstrate our commitment to providing great sports car racing to our fans worldwide."

ESPN International will distribute the one-hour highlight program of each race to be produced by ALMS’ international partner Greenlight-TV throughout Africa, the Middle East, Israel, Latin American, the Caribbean, UK, the Pacific Rim and Asia. In addition, live streamed telecasts of all ALMS races can be seen via its ESPN3.com affiliates ESPN360 (Brazil, Australia, New Zealand); ESPN PLAY (Latin America); and ESPN Star Sports (Far East/Asia).

Additional international distribution agreements currently in place include Fox Latin America, Fox Middle East and Greenlight-TV. Fox Latin America carries all ALMS races live to 43 countries except those distributed internationally (Sebring, Petit Le Mans) by the ILMC. Fox Middle East has a similar arrangement for seven ALMS races, reaching 71 countries. Greenlight-TV produces 30- and 60-minute highlight shows of all non-ILMC races via three anthology shows: Motorsports Mundial, Planet Speed and Max Power.

This year’s race from Long Beach will be telecast in its entirety on ESPN3.com starting at 7:15 p.m. ET/4:15 p.m. local time. ESPN2 will provide television coverage from 5 to 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 17.