In conjunction with Isle of Man based Greenlight Television, the organisers of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship, have confirmed the TV programmes and schedules for the 2004 season. With additional coverage offered by Channel 4, spectators and fans are promised significantly more programmes than ever before for each event.
The main Kwik-Fit Pirelli BRC half hour programme will feature the overall front-runners and Championship positions together with updates on the British Teams Championship. This programme will be screened on Channel 4 on either a Saturday or Sunday morning after each round.
Championship Manager Mark Taylor commented "BRC Licensing Limited decided that in 2004 TV coverage should be on merit alone. Therefore we have not looked to the competitors for funding of the programmes and as such the competitors and teams shown on these programmes will be based upon performance - and that's how it should be.
The all-new programme featured this season will be based upon the inaugural British Super 1600 Championship which, with its new, officially recognised title, will benefit from its own stand-alone half-hour show on Channel 4 and on the satellite network, Men & Motors.
This is a fantastic development for the British Super 1600 series. And what a great accolade and opportunity it is for these young gun competitors, confirmed Mark Taylor. This extra programme was kindly offered by Channel 4 in support of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship. Extra funding was required and it is thanks to Greenlight Television that all of this has actually been made possible and so I will be asking the teams concerned to support their efforts throughout the year.
The popular BRC Rallyzone programme will continue to be featured late night on Channel 4. Rallyzone has traditionally allowed the BRC to profile support classes and categories and in 2004 will feature the Fiat Stilo Rally Cup and the MG Rover Scholarship.
The Production Cup has seen a popular growth this year and in recognition of this, Greenlight TV has agreed to feature the whole series in its Channel 5 programme, Motorsport Mundial and Max Power on Sky Sports.
UK satellite broadcaster Men & Motors will again be providing extensive coverage of the Championship with 3 separate programmes broadcast on each round, together with a season preview and review programmes at the end of the year. This adds up to a total of 24 hours of coverage, including repeats, from each round of the Championship on UK television channels.
In addition, Greenlight TV will again be distributing its programmes throughout the world, which in 2003 was shown in over 500 million homes worldwide. The BRC programmes will be seen in 2004 throughout Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
This significantly increased TV exposure for the British Rally Championship is, of course, further supplemented by the online media initiative for 2004 with the all new BRC TV which can be viewed via the Championships own website brcweb.co.uk concluded Mark Taylor. The chance to view programmes online is a first and I am really looking forward to its full launch.
I would like to think that there are promotional opportunities here for everyone competing in the BRC this season. These opportunities come as part of the whole package and without vested interest paying for TV, which has meant a reduction in the overall costs to teams. Its with thanks to Greenlight TV, the Event organisers and BRCL who have all, in part, taken the pain and cost to make this all possible. My wish is that competitors show their appreciation by supporting us in our quest to drive the BRC back to the top of the International tree.
2004 TV schedules below
Channel 4 TV Schedules (may be subject to late change)
Programme Details - Transmission Details
(BRC Promo) Preview Show 24/04/04 @ 7.30amPirelli International 01/05/04 @7.30amPirelli Super 16s 02/05/04 @8.00amPirelli Rally Zone Late night zoneInt'l Rally of Wales 22/05/04 @ 7.30amWales Super 16s Late night zoneWales Rally Zone Late night zoneRSAC Scottish Intl Rally 20/6/04 @ 8.00amScottish Super 16s 27/06/04 @ 7.00amScottish Rally Zone Late night zoneJim Clarke Memorial 11/07/04 8.30amJim Clarke Super 16s 11/07/04 8.00amJim Clarke Rally Zone Late Night ZoneMANX Int'l Rally 08/08/04 8.30amMANX Super 16s 08/08/04 8.00amMANX Rally Zone Late Night ZoneUlster Int'l 12/09/04 8.30amUlster Super 16s Late Night zoneUlster Rally Zone Late Night ZoneTrackrod Int'l Yorkshire 10/10/04 @ 8.30amTrackrod Super 16s 10/10/04 @ 8.00amTrackrod Rally Zone Late Night ZoneTempest South of England 13/11/04 @ 7.30amTempest Super 16s 14/11/04 @ 8.30amTempest Rally Zone Late Night ZoneReview Show (1 hour) 27/11/04 @ 7.00am
Men & Motors TV Schedules (may be subject to late change)Sunday 1900 hrsMonday 1300 hrsWednesday 1900 hrsThursday 1300 hrsThursday 2100 hrsFriday 1600 hrs
