NEW YORK CITY – July 20, 2023 – SailGP, one of the world’s fastest growing sport leagues, announced today an increased partnership with CBS Sports including 12 dedicated hours on the CBS Television Network and Paramount+, doubling the network coverage from Season 3, and expanding to more than 50 hours of original programming across broadcast and CBS Sports Network.
The edge-of-your-seat, adrenaline-fueled racing has captured the attention of audiences across the United States, posting record-breaking viewership in Season 3, as SailGP propels the sport of sailing into the mainstream.
In 2022, SailGP was the most watched sailing event on US broadcast in more than 30 years, with the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez last October averaging 1.609 million viewers during the CBS broadcast. It was also significant as it marked the first-ever SailGP event victory for the U.S. SailGP Team, led by driver Jimmy Spithill.
The momentum carried over into the next event on the global calendar, as the CBS broadcast of the Spain Sail Grand Prix presented by NEAR Protocol, taking place in Andalucía-Cádiz, on November 13, 2022, averaged 1.636 million viewers, topping the previous record by 27k viewers.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with CBS as we work together to deliver our world-class events to audiences in the United States,” said Ben Johnson SVP, Strategy and Commercial Development. “Evidenced by the record-breaking viewership in Season 3, the thrilling nature of our stadium-style competition is changing the perception of sailboat racing as we continue to elevate the sport into the mainstream.”
On July 22, SailGP will make its debut in Southern California at the Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix as the 10 national teams will race F50 hydrofoiling catamarans in the Outer Harbor racecourse at the Port of Los Angeles. This will be the second event of Season 4, which will span a record 12 events across four continents, concluding in San Francisco in July 2024.
“We’re very happy with the success of our partnership with SailGP going back to the league’s launch,” said Dan Weinberg, EVP, Programming, CBS Sports. “It is an exciting brand of racing that continues to grow and attract fans from all over the world.”
Fans can tune in to watch every SailGP Season 4 global calendar event on the CBS Sports Network including the upcoming Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix. On Saturday, July 22, at 2 p.m. EDT on the CBS Television Network, viewers can enjoy highlights from the opening event of the season, the Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix, which took place in Chicago last month. Fans can then tune in to CBS Sport Network to watch delayed action from the Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix on both July 22 and 23 at 10-11:30 p.m. EDT.
In Australia, the race times are Sunday 23 July 09:00 AEST, and Monday 24 July 09:00 AEST
ABOUT SAILGP //
SailGP is the world’s most exciting racing on water. The global championship features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing’s best athletes racing in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h. SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Visit SailGP.com for more information.
