Extreme E adds to broadcast reach in South Africa with SABC 09.04.2021: Ground-breaking electric SUV racing series, Extreme E, has confirmed today that South Africa’s SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) will televise all five of this year’s X Prix live on its linear channels, SABC1, SABC2, SABC3 and SABC Sport Chann

Ground-breaking electric SUV racing series, Extreme E, has confirmed today that South Africa’s SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) will televise all five of this year’s X Prix live on its linear channels, SABC1, SABC2, SABC3 and SABC Sport Channel – which began with highly anticipated debut X Prix which took place in the deserts of Saudi Arabia a couple of weeks ago.

With head offices in Johannesburg, the South African Broadcasting Company (SABC) is one of the country’s largest state-owned aggregates providing 19 radio stations and five television channels in the region.


The broadcast deal means audiences in South Africa can enjoy Extreme E’s thrilling race coverage as well as its behind-the-scenes magazine show and documentaries - Climate Changers, How to Build a Race Car and Best of Extreme E - all free to air. In addition, series coverage will be accessible on SABC’s digitals platforms SABC Sport Portal, Telkom One OTT Platform and OpenView.



Like many places in the world, South Africa deals with a host of environmental challenges. Climatically sensitive, the region already suffers from severe air pollution - 77% of the energy produced in the country is from coals - which in turn has led to dramatic deforestation on a scale equal to 20 football pitches being lost every minute.



Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E said: “The impacts of climate change can be devastating, and nowhere is that clearer than in this region, where increasing deforestation and heavy use of fossil fuels is threatening an already fragile environment.


“Today’s agreement with SABC will allow Extreme E to reach a huge South African audience with our sport for purpose series. Our championship is so much more than just exciting electric racing, it’s the opportunity to raise awareness of climate change and highlight ways that we can call live a less carbon-intensive lifestyle to protect our planet.”



Gary Rathbone, Head of SABC Sport said: “I believe the future of motorsport starts here with Extreme E, and SABC Sport is absolutely thrilled that we will be able to deliver this great new concept to our viewers on our channels. The fact that its’ focus goes way behind merely racing but delves deep into issues around the environment and the future of our planet's ecology makes Extreme E vital viewing in more ways than one.”


Some of the biggest names in motorsport including Jenson Button, Jamie Chadwick, Molly Taylor, Sébastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz, will go head-to-head for victory in ‘Star Wars pod meets Dakar Rally’ style-racing for the second X Prix in Lac Rose, Senegal (29-30 May). Each event is designed to not only display the benefits of electrification through motorsport, but also to shine the spotlight on the devastating effects of climate change.


In addition, the rules state that each of the Extreme E teams must field both a male and female driver – a world first in motorsport - all of whom will race an all-electric off-roader – the ODYSSEY 21.


Powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology, the 1780-kilogram 2.3-metre-wide ODYSSEY 21 is capable of accelerating from 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds at gradients of up to 130 per cent.

Julia Fry- photo Extreme E