TVNZ Clarifies America's Cup Race Coverage Selection
Denis Harvey, TVNZ's Head of Production & Sport today clarified that ONE Sport does not control the daily selection of live race coverage in the Louis Vuitton
Challenger Series, this is a decision made by the race organisers.
"ONE Sport has no control over the selection of the live race each day. This is decided by the Challenger of Record
Management (CORM) who are the organisers of the race," he said.
"Prior to the commencement of the Challenger Series, it was agreed amongst the syndicates that certainly within the
first Round Robin, each syndicate would have at least two of their races broadcast live. This also meets the obligations
to other international broadcasters.
"Given the high cost of covering yachting, the only financially viable way is to cover one race on any given day until
we reach the semi-finals when both races will be covered simultaneously."
"ONE Sport is only one of a number of broadcasters who have an interest in seeing the coverage. The Challenger of Record
Management has to be cogniscent of the expectations of the audiences who want to see their nation's boat competing,"
explained Mr Harvey.
During coverage of the last Louis Vuitton Challenger Series there was no live coverage available until the semi-finals
of the Series. As a result of the re-structuring of the race format and heightened local and international broadcast
interest the Challenger of Record Management has facilitated live coverage from the first day of racing.