Taiwan's ELTA TV to broadcast Extreme E

ALULA, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 04: Catie Munnings (GBR)/Timmy Hansen (SWE), Andretti United Extreme E during the Desert X-Prix at AlUla on April 04, 2021 in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Charly Lopez / LAT Images)
© Charly Lopez

All-new electric SUV race series Extreme E, which had its debut in Saudi Arabia on 3-4 April, has announced that Taiwanese broadcaster ELTA will show all of the championship’s X Prixs live in both Chinese and English on its Sports channel. The deal means that audiences in Taiwan can also enjoy Extreme E’s behind-the-scenes magazine show and the documentaries on its subscription VOD platform.

With headoffices in Taipei, ELTA TV was launched in 2008 to provide Taiwan with a high-quality relay of varied top-level sporting events which have included FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League – the station is also confirmed as Taiwan’s official broadcaster for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Like many parts of the world, severe weather has taken its toll on Taiwan. In the last century, the island’s urban areas have experienced double the global average temperature rise. That coupled with rising sea levels could submerge one-third of Greater Taipei within two generations. In addition, typhoons are becoming increasingly frequent and devastating vulnerable communities in the south.  Taiwan also ranks eighth in the world for carbon emissions per capita amongst countries with over 10 million population - although change is a foot thanks to present government reforms and greater investment in renewable energies.

Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “Extreme E aims to raise awareness of the climate crisis, and it is fantastic that we will air our sport for purpose series across Taiwan which unfortunately has its own environmental challenges.

“Extreme E is an incredibly entertaining format that shows the potential of electric vehicle technology through thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing. By shining a spotlight on the environmental crisis this way, we hope not only to raise awareness but also highlight changes that can be made to live a less carbon-intensive lifestyle and protect the planet.

“I’m really excited to bring Extreme E’s innovative broadcast product to the Taiwanese audience – we look forward to telling the stories of the race, the environment and the people involved.”

Sally Chen, CEO at ELTA, said: “ELTA has strived for professionalism and richness in passion for Sports throughout the years, and it is of great honor for ELTA to help bring awareness of climate crisis through broadcasting Extreme E on MOD platform. ELTA's faithful audiences know that we have continued to try our very best on achieving quality performance on sports broadcasting and also taking part in changing for the better. Bringing Extreme E to our audience will be a fine example of such dedication.”

Extreme E is backed by some of the biggest names in motorsport including Formula One World Champions Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, along with American motorsport legends including Chip Ganassi and Michael Andretti.

Each of the teams will field both a male and female driver – a world-first in motorsport - in a bid for gender equality. They will drive an electric SUV – ODYSSEY 21 – in five locations that have all been detrimentally impacted by the climate crisis. 

Extreme E aims to shine a spotlight on these issues through its sustainable motorsport, which will utilise a variety of methods to reduce its carbon footprint, from racing electric SUVs to zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell car charging in collaboration with AFC Energy, but it will go further and aims to be net-carbon zero by the end of its first season.