Photo: Supercars

Supercars returns to Seven Network, extends deal with Foxtel

The Supercars Championship has today ended months of speculation by confirming that the category will return to the Seven Network as its free-to-air partner while also extending its deal with Fox Sports by five years.

After announcing earlier this year that it would part ways with Network Ten, ending a relationship that began in 2015, many guessed that Seven would be in the running for Australia’s most popular motorsport category with that decision being made official today.

Starting from next season, the coverage on Fox Sports and streaming app Kayo will remain the same from 2015 to now with every practice, qualifying and race session shown live and ad-break free while the Seven Network will show six rounds, including the Bathurst 1000, as well as the Supercars-owned Bathurst 12 Hour GT race.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer says he’s excited for the category to be back on the Seven Network after the company had previously been the broadcaster of Australian Touring Car Championship races from the early days of the championship until Network 10 took over in 1996, only for Supercars to come back from 2007-2014.

“This deal is the product of a significant body of work to ensure we have the best team possible to take us forward in to the future,” Seamer said.

“It provides certainty for our teams, fans and commercial partners that Supercars is here to stay as the top motorsport category in Australasia.

“I am delighted to continue working with Patrick Delany and his team at Fox Sports and Foxtel. Their commitment to the sport and standard of coverage is world-class and we’re looking forward to watching on as they showcase the future of Australian motorsport.

“We’re also thrilled to welcome back the Seven Network which helped bring motorsport to Australian living rooms way back in the early 1960s as the original broadcast partners of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the early days of Supercars.

“Seven is internationally renowned for its motorsport coverage so we’re excited to see them welcome a new generation of fans.

Seamer not only thanked Patrick Delany, CEO of Foxtel, for his commitment to the sport but also his own predecessor as Supercars CEO, James Warburton, now Seven West Chief Executive.

“I thank Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany and Seven West Chief Executive James Warburton for their plans and commitment to grow this sport over the next five years.

“I would also like to thank Network 10, who have been great partners of Supercars since 2015 and for their ongoing support throughout 2020.

“2021 will be the start of a new era with some old friends and I know everyone in Supercars is excited about what lies ahead.”

With the Gen3 regulations around the corner, Supercars has also locked in a naming rights sponsor in Repco until 2025 as well as extending its deal with New Zealand’s Sky Sports network.