Extreme Sailing Series™ announces 26% increase in global media figures

by Extreme Sailing Series 17 Mar 2014 16:40 GMT 17 March 2014

2013 saw the addition of Land Rover as Series Main Partner to the ever growing family of Extreme Sailing Series commercial partners © Lloyd Images

Independent media evaluation agency Havas Sports & Entertainment Ignition confirms best ever global media value of almost €35.1million for 2013, the seventh year of the original Stadium Racing series.

Figure reflects over €9million growth in TV coverage, including the official seven-part TV series, and almost €1million increase in online coverage compared to 2012.
Host Venue Tender and Selection process for the 2015-2020 seasons begins with two slots available in 2015, and more in 2016 and beyond.
Organiser OC Sport anticipates the global media exposure is set to grow again in 2014, following a successful Series launch event and a spectacular opening Act, as the 11 elite level teams prepare for Act 2, Muscat, 19-22 March.

Leading independent evaluation agency, Havas Sports & Entertainment Ignition, has confirmed an increase in global media exposure for the award-winning Extreme Sailing Series™ for the seventh consecutive year of elite level Stadium Racing, with a final 2013 media value of over €35 million. The figure, calculated using the same methodology each year, represents a 26% increase on 2012 figures, in what was a significant year for the Series on all levels, including the addition of Land Rover as Series Main Partner to the ever growing family of commercial partners – with a second partner being actively sought to sit at the same level as the premium British car brand.

The confirmation comes at an ideal time for prospective Host Venues, as the Tender and Selection process for cities interested in hosting an Extreme Sailing Series Act from 2015-2020 is now open. While the media value is fundamental to underpin the significant and continually growing return to the sponsors, teams and event partners, it does not, on its own, provide a complete reflection of sponsorship value of the pioneering Stadium Racing global tour, which includes the premium B2B 'money can't buy' VIP experience, the association with sailing's aspirational values of innovation, perfectionism, technology and team work, the appeal of the stadium format as a public event and a sporting event delivered on an annual and global scale in traditional and emerging sailing markets.

Leading evaluation agency, Havas Sports & Entertainment Ignition has evaluated the media value for the Extreme Sailing Series since 2009 using the same consistent methodology, providing a true reflection of the media growth of the event – regardless of different approaches in the sports industry to actual evaluation. They apply a conservative 10% uplift for unmonitored coverage, to account for the inevitable coverage that is missed outside of the monitoring periods around each Act. Due to cost, the monitoring process is restricted to limited periods and only in countries where the Acts are staged: TV is only monitored for the week of the event (excluding the seven-part TV series) and print media for one month over the course of the event; only online media is monitored year-round.

TV coverage, including the official seven-part TV series, news and dedicated programming, continues to provide the lion's share of coverage, with an impressive 70% increase in value compared to 2012. The TV series (valued at over €7.8million), set a benchmark in global broadcast distribution in 2013, with 54 channels, versus 41 in 2012, around the globe broadcasting the Series, making it the most widely distributed annual sailing TV series in the world, according to leading TV production company Sunset+Vine|APP.

Gavin Peters, Head of Insight at Havas Sports & Entertainment Ignition attributes the significant increase in TV media value to improved distribution and more high-worth coverage, across all levels of TV output. "For the fourth year in succession (since Havas has been evaluating the media coverage of the Series), we've seen a rise in the value of media coverage delivered by the Extreme Sailing Series, to over €35m in 2013, highlighting its worldwide appeal. Much of this increased value comes from dedicated television programming, and the truly global nature of the event is highlighted by the fact that the top 10 countries in terms of value delivery came from across Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East. The nature and quality of the media coverage, covering significant traditional and digital media coverage, demonstrates the significant reach of the event to sponsors, host venues and teams."

Print media has seen an growth in the number of articles published, with 809 articles in 2013, versus 734 in 2012, and the Series has also seen an significant surge in the value of its online coverage, now valued at almost €2.8million, a 53% increase on 2012. Aside from the evaluated media coverage, the Extreme Sailing Series also saw a significant rise in their online fan base, with a 50% increase in Facebook fans and a 100% increase in Twitter followers, with early signs in 2014 already seeing a significant growth in this area.

While the Series, as expected, received prominent coverage in each of the seven international territories it visited in 2013, it has significantly continued to grow its footprint in regions of interest to its partners outside of those currently visited by the global tour. The USA which, after China and France, was ranked third by territory in terms of value, while key European countries including Germany, where also highly ranked.

OC Sport is now officially inviting cities around the world to bid to host an official Act of the award-winning international Stadium Racing global tour, with the tender process for 2015-2020 open. François Vergnol, Commercial Director for the Series commented on the continued, and ever-growing, appeal of the Series. "These figures come at a very interesting time as our new tender process has been launched, highlighting the value we deliver to host venues not only through media figures but also through the tangible economic impact to the cities we visit. In 2013, by hosting the UK leg of the global Stadium Racing tour in Cardiff Bay, Wales, the Extreme Sailing Series injected approximately £1.9m (as confirmed by the Welsh Assembly Government) into the Welsh economy over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with 120,000 spectators in attendance at the event." Vergnol continued, "In 2013, we also welcomed iconic British brand Land Rover to the Series, providing a high qualitative impact to the circuit, and in doing so growing our family of high-level sponsors including technical partners SAP, official timekeepers EDOX, logistics partners GAC Pindar and clothing supplier Marinepool, providing exceptional value to our venues."

The innovative Stadium Racing circuit brings action close to the shores of iconic cities around the world, providing an exclusive package for Host Venues including a premium VIP experience, unique spectator opportunities which goes beyond sailing fans, and high-integrity elite level sporting competition not only to local audiences but global media. Six venues confirmed for the 2014 Series will return in 2015, with two venues whose contracts are due to expire, expressing their desire for the circuit to return, but creating a window of opportunity for new venues to replace them and join the Series from next year onwards.

Specific criteria is evaluated throughout the Host Venue selection process, and at the forefront, is a venue that can offer a stadium-style location situated within an 'iconic' city, ensuring the concept at the core of the Series remains. In addition, the venue must be able to deliver a sporting event of the highest integrity, ensuring fair racing for the elite level teams who compete. The venue must have city and regional support related to the financial and operational aspects of the event, local promotion and entertainment, and must be a city in a market of commercial interest to our global partners. The ability to attract tens of thousands of spectators and of course, some great wind, is also high on the criteria list.

The closing date for the tender process is 25 April 2014, by 30 April a shortlist will be drawn and final confirmations made by June, ahead of announcing publicly the 2015 Extreme Sailing Series™ circuit dates and venues in September. To express interest and receive the full Host Venue Tender documentation, email .

2013 Media Value Stats:*