Eurosport has secured the broadcasting rights to Formula E in Germany, adding to its deals with seven other EU countries, while the UK rights have been awarded to ITV for the second season.

Eurosport now holds the exclusive TV and digital rights to the FIA Formula E Championship for the next two seasons in Germany, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, as well as Iceland on a non-exclusive basis.

“Following the success of the inaugural season we want to ensure audiences can continue to watch and engage with the series,” said Ali Russell, Director of Media and Strategic Partnerships. 

“This latest agreement reinforces our outreach across key target markets in Europe alongside other existing deals.”

Under the deal, all 11 rounds of the 2015-2016 FIA Formula E Championship will be televised live and free-to-air on Eurosport in Germany.

The win adds a fast-growing event property to Eurosport’s growing portfolio. 

“Motorsport is one of Eurosport’s pillars, with the channel broadcasting major events including MotoGP, FIA WTCC, Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Superbike Championship,” said Peter Hutton, Chief Executive Officer, Eurosport. 

“Securing the rights to Formula E further bolsters the channel’s portfolio with a unique brand of racing. It supports our strategy to bring must-have content to local viewers whilst reaching a wider audience.”

In the UK, Formula E has extended its live and free-to-air broadcast deal with ITV.

"We are delighted to renew our Formula E deal for next year,” said Niall Sloane, Director of Sport at ITV. 

“The sport is building significantly on a thrilling first year and we look forward to bringing this fresh, innovative and futuristic series to our viewers on ITV and ITV4."

The second Formula E season kicks off in Beijing on 24 October.

Formula E Holdings are to stage a demonstration event in central Tokyo in the run up to its second season, motorsport.com reported on Wednesday.

The news follows statements made by CEO Alejandra Agag to HOST CITY at the London Championship in June that Formula E plans to add another Asian city to its calendar, along with other new host cities. 

“We are looking at another race in Asia – and we would like to race in the Middle East,” Agag told HOST CITY at a press conference in Battersea Park hosted by logistics partner DHL. 

“We are looking at a race in Switzerland because there is a change in law which means we can race there.”

Cities around the world are expressing an interest in hosting Formula E, he said. 

“We have probably over 200 cities that have asked. It is not the same thing when you tell them what you have to do, this is what it’s going to cost you, the implications and so on – then it filters down. There are some cities that really want it and others that are just asking to see how it works. 

“Realistically we will add five or six new more races in three of four years.

“We’ve been in discussions with DHL to figure out the logistics; we want to reduce the carbon footprint of the championship and we want to go to new locations.”

At the FIA World Motor Sport Council in July, Paris was added and Miami dropped from the Formula E calendar for the 2015/2016 season. Other cities confirmed were Putrajaya (Malaysia), Punta del Este (Uruguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Long Beach (USA), Berlin (Germany), Moscow (Russia) and London (UK).

The host of a race on March 16 remains unconfirmed, with Mexico City said to be the most likely candidate.

“In Mexico there are very high chances. We will have to bring it to the World Council and the local federations and so on,” Agag told HOST CITY before the World Council meeting.

The test event in Tokyo will help to build Formula E’s reach in Japan, where Aguri Suzuki heads up Team Amlin Aguri in the championships. The country is also a leader in automotive and green technology.

Formula E has a multi-year broadcasting partnership with Japanese broadcaster Asahi, which released viewing figures of 15 million for the opening four races of the 2014/2015 season.

Formula E on Tuesday said it would be inviting expressions of interest from new prospective host cities to join the 2017/18 calendar.

The structured selection process will be managed by London-based firm The Sports Consultancy, whose co-managing director Robert Datnow is speaking at Host City 2016 – the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events.

Successful hosts will be announced in June 2017, subject to approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

“We have enjoyed remarkable growth over the first two seasons of Formula E and now have partnerships with some of the most iconic cities in the world and cutting-edge automotive brands,” said Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag.

“There is now a unique opportunity for new cities to join our calendar and share in the continued exponential growth of the championship.”

The FIA Formula E Championship races on the streets against a backdrop of some of the most iconic host cities, including New York, Marrakesh, Buenos Aires, Monaco, Paris and Montreal.

The inaugural season of Formula E launched in September 2014 around the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing.

The third season, which opens in Hong Kong on 9 October 2016, sees 10 teams and 20 drivers race in 12 cities spanning five continents. The season ends in a double-header event in New York on 29 and 30 July 2017.

According to Formula E, the championship represents “a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology and alternative energy solutions”.

The rights holder anticipates that the further opening of regulations in future seasons will allow manufacturers to focus on developing motor and battery components.