Advancing broadcast standard for America’s Cup

Whether you liked the Larry Ellison era of the America’s Cup, with the high flying multihulls for the 2013 and 2017 editions, it is undeniable how the investment in broadcast technology was a massive step forward.

However, this advancement came at a massive cost, so as we were getting used to it, the question lingered… could this standard be maintained by the next trustee? In an update by Duncan Johnstone for Stuff, there is reason for optimism.

“There’s a standard now that people expect because there’s no doubt that the telecast in Bermuda was really good … that has to be our basic benchmark,” said Team New Zealand’s Grant Dalton.

Regatta organizers have been working on the $40m production, the biggest single cost of the looming regatta, for over two years.

“It’s then been a matter of pulling a consortium of people together to enhance and make it better and move it on,” explained Dalton.

The team includes international experience at Formula One, Olympics, and the FIFA World Cup, with New Zealand talent that has proven its worth with the America’s Cup in the shape of Dunedin outfits Igtimi and Ian Taylor and John Rendall’s ARL, who can bring virtual racing to life.

There’s an edgy element too – Austria’s West4 Media were the producers of the Red Bull Stratos space jump with Felix Baumgartner which broke viewing records around the world – that hints at something being done outside the square on these revolutionary boats.

The primary objective of the live broadcast is to make it the most viewed America’s Cup in its long and storied history.

“We came into this with the philosophy that if you were anywhere on the planet at any time with either a device or a TV, you should be able to watch the America’s Cup,” Dalton said. “We are not looking for a revenue model, we are looking to show the sailing, the Cup and New Zealand to as many corners of the world that we can through TV but also through free digital.”

The goal is for the system to be de-bugged for the Christmas Cup in December, with everything perfected by the start of the Prada Cup challenger series on January 15. The winner of that series goes on to sail against Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup from March 6.

Details: www.americascup.com

36th America’s Cup
In addition to Challenges from Italy, USA, and Great Britain that were accepted during the initial entry period (January 1 to June 30, 2018), eight additional Notices of Challenge were received by the late entry deadline on November 30, 2018. Of those eight submittals, entries from Malta, USA, and the Netherlands were also accepted. Here’s the list:

Defender:
• Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL)

Challengers:
• Luna Rossa (ITA) – Challenger of Record
• American Magic (USA)
• INEOS Team UK (GBR)
• Malta Altus Challenge (MLT) – WITHDRAW
• Stars + Stripes Team USA (USA)
• DutchSail (NED) – WITHDRAW

Of the three late entries, only Stars+Stripes USA remains committed, however, it is unclear what entry payments have been made, nor is there knowledge of a boat being actively built or sailing team assembled.

Key America’s Cup dates:
✔ September 28, 2017: 36th America’s Cup Protocol released
✔ November 30, 2017: AC75 Class concepts released to key stakeholders
✔ January 1, 2018: Entries for Challengers open
✔ March 31, 2018: AC75 Class Rule published
✔ June 30, 2018: Entries for Challengers close
✔ August 31, 2018: Location of the America’s Cup Match and The PRADA Cup confirmed
✔ August 31, 2018: Specific race course area confirmed
✔ November 30, 2018: Late entries deadline
✔ March 31, 2019: Boat 1 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ 2nd half of 2019: 2 x America’s Cup World Series events (CANCELLED)
✔ October 1, 2019: US$1million late entry fee deadline (NOT KNOWN)
✔ February 1, 2020: Boat 2 can be launched (DELAYED)
✔ April 23-26, 2020: First (1/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Cagliari, Sardinia (CANCELLED)
✔ June 4-7, 2020: Second (2/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Portsmouth, England (CANCELLED)
• December 17-20, 2020: Third (3/3) America’s Cup World Series event in Auckland, New Zealand
• January 15-February 22, 2021: The PRADA Cup Challenger Selection Series
• March 6-15, 2021: The America’s Cup Match

Youth America’s Cup Competition
• February 18-23, 2021
• March 1-5, 2021
• March 8-12, 2021

AC75 launch dates:
September 6 – Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Boat 1
September 10 – American Magic (USA), Boat 1; actual launch date earlier but not released
October 2 – Luna Rossa (ITA), Boat 1
October 4 – INEOS Team UK (GBR), Boat 1

Details: www.americascup.com