Bloomberg Secures Global TV Rights To World’s Longest Ocean Race

18th December 2015

Bloomberg Television has acquired the rights to sports news and long-form programming of the world’s longest ocean race.

Season two of the highly acclaimed series ‘Race of Their Lives’ airs from this weekend and comprises seven one-hour shows with an exclusive ‘access-all-areas’ pass to the tenth edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race - the unique biennial endurance challenge for amateur sailors.

The unique event was established in 1996 and sees hundreds of competently trained teams of ‘Corinthian’ competitors from all walks of life, under the command of professional skippers, take on the longest and toughest ocean race around the planet at more than 40,000 nautical miles.

It takes almost a year to complete a series of 14 races between six continents, including the challenging Australian blue water classic, the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. The compelling human story of endeavour and endurance unfolds in this exclusive television series.

The first episode of the second series of 'Race of Their Lives' will air on Bloomberg Television on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December at 1100 AM GMT (1200 CET) across UK, Europe, Middle-East and Africa. Subsequent installments will air in future months as the race progresses around the world, ending back in London at the end of July 2016.

You can also catch series one of ‘Race of Their Lives’ currently airing on Bloomberg TV EMEA on Saturdays and Sundays at 1200 noon GMT (1300 CET)

UK based 1080 Media TV has been retained for a second season to produce and distribute the global long-form official TV series, live feeds, news and social media packages. “We introduced a new look and style to the production in the last race and will continue to develop a strong multi-platform approach which maximises traditional broadcast and new digital media opportunities for a strong global brand like the Clipper Race,” said Founder and CEO of 1080 Media TV Cliff Webb.

“We'll continue to explore new technological opportunities too, filming aboard the yachts in the depths of remote and inhospitable environments such as the Southern Ocean where it's cold, wet and dangerous. It’s a real challenge for both people and equipment but we're confident our teams will get the best possible images to show how the crew cope with all that mother nature throws at them and bring home the stories.”

The Clipper Race fleet is owned and operated by Clipper Ventures which commissioned the TV series: “The reappointment of 1080 Media TV reflects the growing demand and diversity of requirements for our high-energy content as every-day people take on this remarkable challenge,” said Clipper Ventures Global Business and Communications Director, and executive producer, Jonathan Levy.

The Clipper 2015-16 Race got underway at the end of August, with coverage reaching over 125 countries including race destination markets such as the UK, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Vietnam, China, USA, Panama and the Netherlands, plus France and Canada following skippers and crew in big numbers.

“New technology on the twelve yachts is also opening up live access for broadcasters. We can support live video Skype links from the deck of the yachts, which creates unprecedented opportunities for audiences to be at the heart of the action as it unfolds,” added Levy.

Published in Clipper Race

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Clipper Round The World Race

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About the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is undoubtedly one of the greatest ocean adventures on the planet, also regarded as one of its toughest endurance challenges. Taking almost a year to complete, it consists of eleven teams competing against each other on the world’s largest matched fleet of 70-foot ocean racing yachts.

The Clipper Race was established in 1996 by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first person to sail solo, non-stop, around the world in 1968-69. His aim was to allow anyone, regardless of previous sailing experience, the chance to embrace the thrill of ocean racing; it is the only event of its kind for amateur sailors. Around 40 per cent of crew are novices and have never sailed before starting a comprehensive training programme ahead of their adventure.

This unique challenge brings together everyone from chief executives to train drivers, nurses and firefighters, farmers, airline pilots and students, from age 18 upwards, to take on Mother Nature’s toughest and most remote conditions. There is no upper age limit, the oldest competitor to date is 76.

Now in its twelfth edition, the Clipper 2019-20 Race started from London, UK, on 02 September 2019.