Malta's Public Broadcasting Services Ltd (PBS) has extended its broadcast deal with pioneering electric off-road racing series Extreme E. The series will be shown on TVMSport, operated by PBS.
PBS will televise Extreme E’s live races, along with the review, preview, and magazine shows, in both Maltese and English, on its free-to-air channels.
While the racing series features short, sharp, and exciting wheel-to-wheel racing to thrill global audiences, it is also built out of a social purpose, aiming to minimise the environmental impact, but also maximise awareness, by racing in areas that have already been affected by climate change.
Extreme E Chief Marketing Officer Ali Russell remarked that the racing series is “delighted” to have extended its agreement with PBS.
“Extreme E’s mission to ‘race without trace’ whilst simultaneously raising awareness of climate issues, means it is vital that our series reaches as many audiences, on as many platforms as possible throughout the world,” Mr Russell said.
“Working with PBS will not only continue to provide viewers in Malta with a thrilling and innovative motorsport championship, but also help convey our message that we all need to play our part in looking after our planet,” he concluded.
PBS Executive Chairman Mark Sammut added that PBS’s commitment “goes beyond high quality content,” as it “promotes care for the environment both through its operations and publications”.
“With Extreme E, we will not only entertain our audience and thrill the sport enthusiasts, but also increase awareness and promote eco-friendly initiatives,” he said.
The locations of the series have all been affected by a number of environmental issues, such as desertification, deforestation, melting ice caps, plastic pollution, as well as rising carbon emissions. Extreme E aims to shine a spotlight on such issues through its sustainable motorsport, which makes use of several methods to reduce its carbon footprint, including racing electric SUVs to zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell car charging.
Additionally, Extreme E seeks to leave a long-lasting positive impact through its Legacy Programmes, that allow the series to provide both social and environmental support in the locations in which the races are held. This is done by involving as much of the local community as possible, including providing long-term renewable energy solutions to schools and local organisations.
Alongside existing projects in the Amazon rainforest, the series is also supporting turtle conservation along the Red Sea’s coastline, an educational programme in Greenland in collaboration with UNICEF, and mangrove tree planting initiatives in Senegal.
Also, the championship has a gender equal format in a bid to encourage gender equality and a level playing field, which is a "world-first" in motorsport.
Extreme E has already attracted some popular names in the motorsport world, including Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Jenson Button, all of whom have founded teams in the series.
As the operator of Malta’s leading television channels, TVM and TVMnews+, PBS features a mixture of news, sport, entertainment, and also magazine programming. It is a member of the European Broadcasting Union and Malta's Broadcast Authority.
