Organisers of the World Rally Championship have struck a deal to remain on Channel 5 network in the UK.
The championship has regularly aired in highlights form on Channel 5’s main outlet since 2016, with 60-minute highlights airing in a week day time slot at 19:00. However, coverage of the first round of the 2019 season, the Monte Carlo rally did not air on any of Channel 5’s outlets, nor on any other free-to-air television network, leaving WRC’s free-to-air future in limbo.
Now, the series will continue on the Channel 5 network, with highlights for the Sweden round airing on their sister channel 5Spike this upcoming Monday at 19:00.
A WRC spokesperson said “We have an agreement with Channel 5 and the Sweden highlights will be broadcast on Spike next Monday.”
It is unclear whether the season as a whole will air on 5Spike, which may be considered a demotion compared with the past three years when highlights aired on Channel 5’s main channel, or whether this is a one-off move before reverting to the main Channel 5 station from Mexico.
Motorsport Broadcasting 