McLaren extends deal with broadcast sponsorship partner

Length of contract: 1 year
Annualized value: US$100,000
Overall value: US$100,000

Formula One giants McLaren Mercedes and wireless broadcasters Kangaroo TV have signed a one-year extension to their deal. Kangaroo TV's products have been described by Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone as, "as good as it gets." The terms of the contract will remain the same as the previous deal, with Kangaroo providing no cash but US$100,000 worth of equipment and services.

The company will continue to provide its wireless audiovisual entertainment systems to McLaren's guests at Grands Prix. Kangaroo has a separate contract with Formula One allowing it to broadcast the competition's live feeds through its systems.

McLaren's guests will be able to watch world champion Lewis Hamilton and team mate Heikki Kovalainen's entire races, as well as accessing a number of other functions, including in-car driver cameras, live commentary and live statistics.

"Kangaroo TV has been part of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team hospitality setting for two years already and it is difficult to remember how we were able to convey the Formula One experience to our guests and VIPs before," said Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's team principal. "The innovative TV devices allow our guests to personalize their spectator experience, help them to capture everything out on the circuit and better understand how it affects our race and our strategy. We are working closely with Kangaroo TV for the upcoming season to find new ways to uniquely enhance the spectator experience."

Alain Charette, Kangaroo's head of Europe business development, said: "The signature Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Kangaroo TV sets were the first to be introduced in the F1 Paddock and Paddock Club in 2007 and a forward-thinking move by the team, so their guests could follow and understand the entire race better. We are proud to be associated with the 2008 Formula One World Champion’s team for another year; it gives us a challenge to push the limit once more."