Sweden's Sportkanalen joins Extreme E's broadcast menu
Extreme E, the ground-breaking electric off-road racing series, has confirmed Sweden’s leading channel Sportkanalen as the latest addition to its broadcasting portfolio. C More, Sportkanalen’s digital channel, is popular throughout Sweden and will air live coverage of Extreme E’s X Prixs as well as the preview, review, and magazine shows in both Swedish and English. Coverage of the championship will also be available on C More’s OTT digital platform.
Sweden currently ranks in the top five leading countries in the world in the uptake of electric vehicles amongst its population. With an EV market share of 26 per cent and an increase in sales of a staggering 245 per cent in 2019, Sweden is making great strides in electric transformation – thanks largely to increased government incentives to buyers, namely national grants, and tax subsidiaries.
Equally, the Swedish nation loves its motorsport and boasts many exceptional racing drivers. One of whom, WRX supremo, Johan Kristoffersson has already taken Extreme E honours when he and his Rosberg X Racing teammate Molly Taylor drove to a sensational victory at the series opener in Saudi Arabia last month.
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer, Extreme E said: “Sweden is a vital market for Extreme E and I am delighted to welcome Sportkanalen and C More to our broadcast menu. The population’s increasing usage of electric vehicles is great to see, particularly as the benefits of electrification are one of the key pillars of our championship.
“In addition, we also have an impressive cohort of Swedish talent amongst our driver line up this year. We are thrilled to have the likes of Johan Kristoffersson, Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky , Timmy Hansen and Mattias Ekström on the grid and I’m confident that this, as well as the ever-important environmental stories behind our sport for purpose series, will make for a captivating show for C More and Sportkanalen’s audiences.”
Johan Cederqvist, Head of C More channels and rights said: “Extreme E will be a strong complement to our other sports rights on Sportkanalen and C More. People in Sweden have a great interest in motorsport and Extreme E has a natural place in our portfolio.”
Extreme E has already attracted some of the biggest names in motorsport including Formula One World Champions Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button, all of whom have founded teams X44, Rosberg X Racing and JBXE respectively. Button also makes up the male half of his driver pairing, with his Swedish female teammate Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky. The gender equal format is a stipulation of the championship in a bid to encourage gender equality and a level playing field - a world-first in motorsport.
All 18 Extreme E drivers compete in identical fully electric 550 bhp SUVs. Known as the ODYSSEY 21, these monster off-roaders can reach 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds, at gradients of up to 130 per cent.
The cars, along with the rest of the championship’s freight are currently at sea on Extreme E’s floating centrepiece, the St. Helena, as it heads to Senegal for the Ocean X Prix at the end of this month. The series chose a ship as sea travel is less carbon intensive than air freight, but not only that, it also provides the opportunity to conduct research into various areas of the marine environment during the global voyage in its on-board science laboratory, which will be home to a number of scientists during its year long voyage.
