iShares Cup on TV

Programme 1 will air for the first time in the UK on Setanta Sport on 5th July and on Sky Sport on 11th July. In Ireland the programme can be seen on Sky Sport on 11th July and in France, the first show goes out today on Sport+. Sky New Zealand will be airing the first episode on 8th July and Sun Sport Florida in the USA has already shown the first show. So far, 11 broadcasters around the world have chosen to broadcast the iShares Cup TV series covering the UK, France, Ireland, Spain, Italy, USA, Australia, New Zealand, the pan-African regions, Middle East, pan-Scandinavia, Finland and the Baltics. See latest broadcast schedule below.

Programme 1 covers the first round of the iShares Cup that took place on Lake Lugano on the Swiss/Italian border. The action kicked off immediately, in the first race of the first day as America's Cup defenders Alinghi capsized in dramatic style after being caught out by a severe squall that ripped through the fleet in seconds.

The Swiss event of the five-regatta European tour, proved to be a real test of nerve for the competing Extreme 40s as they went from survival mode in the squalls to very light conditions. It was double Olympic medallist Shirley Robertson and her crew onboard JPMorgan Asset Management that triumphed, and the only female skipper on the tour could not conceal her delight.

JPMorgan Asset Management crew win the first event of the 2008 iShares Cup at Lugano. (L-R) Shirley Robertson, Fraser Brown,

In Programme 2, the iShares Cup circuit moved on to Hyères in France. The infamous Mistral ensured racing was testing for the crews and exciting for the spectators. There was plenty action, including a spectacular pitch-pole by American team Tommy Hilfiger. But it was Ed Baird and the Alinghi crew who fought off a strong challenge from 2007 iShares Cup defending champions, Rob Greenhalgh and crew on TEAM ORIGIN, and went on to make a great come back.

Listed below are the broadcast dates known at this time, for future transmission times please go to the website at http://www.isharescup.com and click on the TV TIMES button to check future listings (this option will be available shortly). In addition, the 6-part series will be made available online at http://www.isharescup.com following UK broadcast.

iShares Cup TV Series Broadcast Schedule (as at 3.7.08):
UK & Ireland, Sky Sports - Programme 1
Friday 11th July @ 1830 Sky Sport 2
Friday 12th July @ 0300 Sky Sport Xtra
Sunday 13th July @ 1530 Sky Sport Xtra
Sunday 13th July @ 1930 Sky Sport 3
Sunday 13th July @ 2300 Sky Sport Xtra
Monday 14th July @ 1830 Sky Sport 2

UK, Setanta Sport - Programme 1
Saturday 5th July @ 0800
Saturday 5th July @1330
Monday 7th July @ 1130

UK, Setanta Sport - Programme 2
Saturday 12th July @ 1600
Sunday 13th July @ 0230
Sunday 13th July @0830
Monday 14th July @ 1130

France, Sport+ Programme 1
Thursday July 3rd @ 1330
Friday July 4th @ 0915

France, Sport+ Programme 2
Tuesday July 8th @ 1630
Friday July 11th @ 1445

New Zealand, Sky
8/7/08 1800 Sport 2
9/7/08 1830 Sport 1
10/7/08 0830 Sport 2

Awaiting further confirmation of broadcast dates/times from:
M-Net Supersport (pan-Africa/South Africa)
FOX Sport (pan-Africa & Middle East)
Al Jazeera Sport (pan-Africa & Middle East)
Viasat Sport 3 (pan-Scandinavia, Finland & the Baltics)
Sailing Channel (international)
Deporte 2 (Spain)
Sportmania (Spain)
Sailing Channel (Italy)
FOX Australia (Australia)
Sun Sport Florida (USA)
Sky New Zealand (New Zealand)
Setanta Sport (UK)
Setanta Sport (Ireland)
Sky Sports (Ireland)
Sky Sports (UK)
Sport+ (France)