BBC Sport has secured the exclusive terrestrial rights to cover the world’s oldest and most prestigious sailing event. The America’s Cup is one of the sporting world’s major events- and for the first time in 15 years there ‘s been a British challenge.

The BBC will follow the GBR Challenge – from the launch of its boat to its races in New Zealand in the Autumn. BBC2 will show live races and highlights programmes, Grandstand will have regular updates, and both online and radio will play a major part in the coverage.

The BBC Sport Online website will track the races, as well as producing regular webcasts with key members of the British team. There will also be analysis, maps, photos, interaction and games – enabling sailing fans need to keep up to date with all the action. The coverage will be truly tri-medial – demonstrating the value of converged broadcasting.

Andrew Thompson, Head of New Media, Sport News and Development said “After the successes of the British team in the Olympics, and the amazing exploits of Ellen Macarthur which captured the nation’s imagination, the America’s Cup and the British challenge have all the potential to be a great British sporting moment at the end of this year.

“For BBC Sport this gives us the opportunity to develop truly innovative coverage which brings together the television and online broadcasts – with all our BBC platforms capturing the glamour and excitement of one of the great sporting events. Only the BBC can offer the breadth of resources to best cover this pinnacle of sailing.

Peter Harrison of the GBR Challenge team said, “The BBC has already provided great support of our sport. Together we can take sailing onto a new level, to further emphasise that this is an exciting sport, accessible to all.

Peter Harrison heads up the GBR Challenge which will be looking to win the America’s Cup, something no British team has ever done in the competition’s 151 year history. To get to the America’s Cup, GBR Challenge must first win the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenge Series. The winner then takes on the New Zealand, the current holder’s of the America’s Cup.