Thursday April 5, 2007
RTM gets F1 telecast rights
KUALA LUMPUR: RTM has secured the rights to telecast this year's Formula One races.

Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin said RTM 2 would telecast all the 17 races and also screen delayed telecasts, depending on the programme schedule.

He said that of the 17 races, seven would be telecast live, including the F1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix at 3pm this weekend.

Zainuddin thanked Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for giving RTM the opportunity to become the host broadcaster for the premier world motor racing championship.

He said the mandate given to RTM was significant this year, as RTM had just turned 61 on April 1.

“Every minute, we are attracting people to watch programmes on RTM 1 and RTM 2, and with the live broadcast of the race in Sepang, we hope to draw more than one million avid viewers.

“Furthermore, we had the experience of broadcasting the prestigious event in 2003 and 2004, and, therefore, we hope to provide the best coverage,” he said at a press conference after witnessing an agreement signing ceremony between RTM and SIC at Angkasapuri yesterday.

SIC chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir also witnessed the signing ceremony.

Mokhzani said this was not the first time RTM was given the rights to telecast the event, and SIC was confident the television station would provide quality coverage according to international standards.

He said F1 Management and International Automobile Federation (FIA) were proud of SIC achievements, as it has become a benchmark for many new circuits like the ones in Bahrain, China and Turkey.

When asked if SIC was interested in holding the races at night, Mokhzani said F1 Management and FIA had suggested that but SIC needed to conduct an in-depth study on safety matters related to the drivers and also on the lighting system.