Whisper Films secures three-year deal to produce multi-platform SailGP coverage

SailGP has appointed London-based production company Whisper Films as the broadcast and production partner for its new global boat racing league.

The three-year deal will see Whisper Films produce live coverage and highlights programming as part of what is being described as a “multi-platform broadcast experience”.

SailGP, which aims to make sailing “entertaining and accessible” for sports fans all over the world, will feature six national team crews racing identical, supercharged F50 catamarans in iconic waterfront locations.

A core component of the SailGP coverage will be proprietary LiveLineFx ‘increased reality graphics’ technology.

LiveLineFx will integrate information and graphics with the live action feed, and enable an interactive second-screen experience using real-time athlete performance data and race information.

It will be combined with footage from drones and 360-degree virtual cameras while sponsor branding will be superimposed onto the water for television viewers.

Discussing the tie-up, SailGP chief executive Russell Coutts said: “SailGP aims to put exceptional athletes centre-stage, and put fans in control. Whisper Films will help translate SailGP’s dramatic live spectacle into a broadcast product that out-performs for both seasoned sailing aficionados and new fans around the world.”

“Whisper Films will help translate SailGP’s dramatic live spectacle into a broadcast product that out-performs for both seasoned sailing aficionados and new fans around the world.”

Whisper Films is owned by former F1 driver and television presenter David Coulthard, the BBC and BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey, and BAFTA Film Award-winning producer Sunil Patel.

The company has worked on branded content projects for the NFL, Premier League, F1 and Formula-E, and has contracts with the FA for BBC, US Open tennis for Amazon, Paralympics for Channel 4. It also produces magazine programmes for the International Hockey Federation and UEFA.

Channel 4 has an equity stake in the company.

Patel added: “At Whisper Films, we have made it our business to produce impactful, creative content for sports brands that break the mould. SailGP shares our philosophy of disruptive, high-tech innovation and uninhibited creativity. Together, we believe we will fundamentally change the way sailing is broadcast, and the way fans connect with the athletes.”

Talisman Sports and Media is handling global media rights distribution for SailGP.

The SailGP international league, sanctioned by World Sailing, will feature five Grand Prix events starting in Sydney in February 2019.