THE government says it expects the TT television audience to have doubled this year.
The Department of Economic Development says deals negotiated by North One TV should secure greater success.
Last year 16 million viewers that watched the 2011 event worldwide.
New deals have been signed with broadcasters in the Middle East and North Africa, South America, Asia, Scandinavia, France, Poland and the Czech Republic. Several other deals are close to being signed with major broadcasters in territories where TT dedicated programmes will be shown for the first time.
These territories will join the established pool of TV broadcasters worldwide carrying the international TT programmes which includes Australia, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, the USA and Canada.
A total of 14 one-hour programmes are being shown on ITV4, and a Welsh language version on S4C. In addition to 11 TT review programmes, ITV4 has screened three one-hour specials: a profile of John McGuinness; a look at the TT ‘Record Breakers’; and a behind the scenes look at how the TT is set up called ‘the Final Countdown’.
In addition to the TT races review programmes a number of stations are also planning features during the TT: BBC Coast programme will again be visiting the Isle of Man; an Al Jazeera documentary team are creating a one-hour film of the event; ITV4’s The Motorbike Show are filming a show on the return of Norton; and a crew from HBO in the USA are in the island to do a major news and lifestyle feature.
This year, North One TV has introduced higher spec hi-motion cameras that run at 1000 frames per second, an increase from the 600 frames last year. The company has also researched more new camera angles and positions.
ITV4, which shows the action from the TT every night, is not available from Freeview transmitters in the island, although it can be viewed on satellite and on Freeview in most of the UK.
Colin Kniveton, chief executive, Department of Economic Development commented: ‘We have already seen more international visitors to the Isle of Man on the back of the increased profile and we are confident that this trend will continue as a result of the extended coverage.’
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