From a press release issued by FGSport Group:

THE SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP AND
SPEED CHANNEL RENEW HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TV RIGHTS AGREEMENT FOR A FURTHER THREE YEARS TO 2007

Laguna Seca, Saturday 10 July 2004

Superbike World Championship rights holders, FGSPORT, have today announced a three-year renewal to their highly successful television rights agreement with the leading American motor sport broadcaster Speed Channel. The agreement covers exclusive satellite and cable rights across North America.

The deal will run through 2005 – 2007 and guarantees extensive primary television visibility for the Championship in the key market of the United States. Furthermore, Speed Channel will continue as the host broadcaster for the United States round of the Championship for the duration of the agreement.

Commenting on the outcome of the negotiations, FGSPORT CEO, Paolo Flammini, said: “We are extremely happy to have concluded a renewal of what has been one of our most successful television rights deals for the Series to date. Our relationship with Speed Channel goes back many years and they have always provided an excellent level of programming for the Championship. We are delighted to extend the deal and look forward to working with Speed Channel to further enhance the coverage in the next couple of years.”

In 2003 Speed Channel provided more than 78 hours of Superbike World Championship programming, including extensive live coverage of the United States round.

Speed Channel Senior VP, Rick Miner, said: “Speed is very pleased with the successful conclusion of our negotiations to re-new the Superbike World Championship. WSBK has provided and continues to provide the world class motorcycle racing our viewers demand.”

Speed Channel is the exclusive U.S. cable home for many of the top motor sports series in the world. In addition, Speed’s weekly programming schedule brings car enthusiast television to Prime Time Monday through Thursday. Now available in more the 66 million homes in North America, Speed Channel is among the fastest growing sports cable networks in the country and the home to NASCAR TV.

The next round of the Championship takes place at Brands Hatch in the United Kingdom from 30 July – 1 August.