WRC moves to Motors TV

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Originally Posted by Tomi

its true you can read statistics in many ways, what do you mean by numbers that can only be guessed? Not so sure eurosport in huge economic problems see 75000 as a very good figure.

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There are only 20 countries or so that accurately measure tv-ratings nationwide. In the rest of the world they use estimates with a variety of different methods. These numbers can easily be twisted or inflated to your liking. Bernie Ecclestone is a master with this, just look how many Chinese people supposedly watch every Grand Prix.
I agree that 75000 people Europe-wide looks terrible. But on the other hand rally is mostly scheduled in off-hours - late at night or in the morning. Also remember that Eurosport 2 has a much smaller reach. Plus I think there are huge differences between rallies, the Monte was viewed by more persons than the Safari.

Of course, there is also a reason why they are shopping their WTCC and IRC tv-rights around in every country; to get some return! I think that is part of their strategy with owning their own racing series.

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Originally Posted by Lousada

Plus, the IRC figures are 99% key markets, namely the European countries. While the WRC figures on the other hand are for a large part made up from third world numbers that can only be guessed, from markets that are not very interesting to sponsors.

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I don't know about this, I think car markets are pretty even between Asia, Europe and North America so I do believe areas outside of Europe are as interesting if not even more than Europe for sponsors.

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

I don't know about this, I think car markets are pretty even between Asia, Europe and North America so I do believe areas outside of Europe are as interesting if not even more than Europe for sponsors.

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I'm pretty sure that manufacturers appreciate media visibility in China, India and all countries that have developed a lot recently and cars have become a real possibility for the middle class.

Rally start and finish ceremonies seem to be rather big events in China... Lots of good marketing value to be gained there. Atleast that's the impression I've got from Välimäki's adventures there.

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Originally Posted by DonJippo

I don't know about this, I think car markets are pretty even between Asia, Europe and North America so I do believe areas outside of Europe are as interesting if not even more than Europe for sponsors.

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Depends on what sponsors. M-sport for example is sponsored by Ford Europe. The entity Ford Europe does not care about sales in North America because that revenue goes to Ford US. Citroen doesn't even sell cars in North America. So these sponsors will retract the North American numbers from these statistics.
In my own baseless opinion I think that currently all the sponsors in the WRC are focussed on Europe. Australasia used to be important too and probably will be again when the Japanese manufacturers return.

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Originally Posted by Lousada

In my own baseless opinion I think that currently all the sponsors in the WRC are focussed on Europe.

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Thats not true, there will soon be events in places like South Africa and India, the initiative for theese comes from the manufacturers.

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Originally Posted by Juha_Koo

I'm pretty sure that manufacturers appreciate media visibility in China, India and all countries that have developed a lot recently and cars have become a real possibility for the middle class.

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Most global corporations have regional divisions that can spend their own marketing euros. It's very seldom that a multinational uses a truely global sports strategy, and even more seldom that they use it on something so marginal as WRC.

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Rally start and finish ceremonies seem to be rather big events in China... Lots of good marketing value to be gained there. Atleast that's the impression I've got from Välimäki's adventures there.

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Yes, probably. However, China was in the IRC for two years and nobody in Europe cared. Where I am living rallies are locally big events too. On a national level however it still means nothing. Sponsors that can afford the WRC do not look at the live specators, but at the national impact. Which is still small in China.

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Originally Posted by Tomi

Thats not true, there will soon be events in places like South Africa and India, the initiative for theese comes from the manufacturers.

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What manufacturers and what is soon? Again, the IRC attempted this and nobody showed even the slightest interest.

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Originally Posted by Lousada

What manufacturers and what is soon?

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in 2 years, in general most initiatives comes from the manufacturers.

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Originally Posted by Tomi

in 2 years, in general most initiatives comes from the manufacturers.

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In two years, that means there will be candidate events next year?? I had not read about that yet.
Again I ask which manufacturers? Was it Ford and/or Citroen? Because I specifically said: sponsors that are CURRENTLY in the WRC. New manufacturers always try to impose their strategies on the wrc before they join.

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Originally Posted by Lousada

In two years, that means there will be candidate events next year?? I had not read about that yet.
Again I ask which manufacturers? Was it Ford and/or Citroen? Because I specifically said: sponsors that are CURRENTLY in the WRC. New manufacturers always try to impose their strategies on the wrc before they join.

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Current manufacturers, offcourse.