A1 Grand Prix moved a step closer to securing global television coverage for the World Cup of Motorsport today announcing seven major international television deals that will see A1 Grand Prix races beamed live into more than 290 million households across 50 countries.

Each deal gives the network exclusive broadcast rights to air up to six hours of live A1 Grand Prix action in their designated territory over every race weekend.

Al Jazeera Sport will reach 50 million households in - Algeria, Bahrain, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

Epoch Sports will reach 17 million households in - Eastern Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

ESPN STAR Sports will reach 180 million households in - Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

SABC will reach 5.6 million households in - South Africa (and Sub-Saharan Africa by satellite)

Sky Italia will reach 3.4 million households in - Italy

Sky Sports will reach 10 million households in - United Kingdom

TAF Sports will reach 10 million households in - Eastern Europe: Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia

Televisa will reach 20 million households in - Mexico

Commenting on the broadcast deals, A1 Grand Prix Commercial and Broadcast Director Richard Dorfman said: 'We are extremely pleased at the response and reaction of broadcasters worldwide to the A1 Grand Prix proposition. They have recognised the fantastic audience potential and programmability that A1GP brings
to their schedule.'

A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman Sheikh Maktoum went on to say: 'A1 Grand Prix is the first motorsport series designed from the outset to reach every habitable continent on the planet - it is a truly global motorsport series and will be accessible to billions of fans all over the world. Through these television deals we have the possibility of reaching more than 290 million households demonstrating our commitment to provide fans, teams and sponsors with a high-profile international sporting event. With close exciting races in some of the world's most glamorous locations, I'm confident we'll keep viewers around the world glued to their screens over the A1 racing season. We anticipate another raft of broadcast signings within the month.'