Gravity Media Australia has confirmed it will partner with Events South Australia to create and deliver coverage of the 2023 Santos Tour Down Under across Australia and multiple international territories.
South Australia will play host to the Santos Tour Down Under from 13 – 22 January 2023.
The 10-day event brings male and female UCI WorldTour professional cycling teams to race on the streets of Adelaide and across regional South Australia each January.
South Australia and the Santos Tour Down Under is the first stop for the world’s best male and female cycling teams and riders racing in 2023 and has been elevated by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to become the opening event of the UCI WorldTour which also includes the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
The Santos Tour Down Under is owned and managed by Events South Australia, a division of the South Australian Tourism Commission, on behalf of the South Australian Government.
Gravity Media Australia has been appointed by Events South Australia as the “host” broadcast company for the Tour Down Under. This will be Gravity Media’s third year as the broadcast and production partner.
In a complex technology and logistics undertaking, Gravity Media will deploy state-of-the-art high definition outside broadcast trucks and satellite units, more than 20 cameras, including on-board “chase” motorcycles and coverage from the air with helicopter and drone cameras, and a crew of up to 150 to cover the Santos Tour Down Under as it travels almost 1,000 kilometres across South Australia.
Gravity Media will also deploy specialist broadcast technology and communications services through its Globecam business which is internationally acknowledged for its innovation in the development of world-leading speciality miniature cameras and RF communications solutions.
In addition to delivering all broadcast technologies and as “host” broadcast company, Gravity Media has also been appointed by Events South Australia as the television production company for the event, creating, producing and delivering the complete television production of the Santos Tour Down Under for the world.
Gravity Media’s overall production – encompassing 40 hours of live coverage and the production and delivery of a daily highlights programme for Australian and international audiences – will be broadcast to a global audience across multiple international broadcast and content delivery platforms including the Seven Network in Australia.
Hitaf Rasheed, Events South Australia executive director, said: “2023 is a massive year for the Santos Tour Down Under, returning to the international calendar after three years and the elevation of the women’s race to Women’s WorldTour status.
“Broadcasting an international cycling race, with more than 200 athletes racing across almost 1000 kilometres of spectacular South Australian roads, is a huge challenge.
“We have worked closely with Gravity Media over the last couple of years with the Santos Festival of Cycling and we are confident that together, we will deliver an incredible broadcast experience for fans across the world in 2023.”
Mike Purcell, head of production at Gravity Media Australia, said: “In the wake of a challenging few years providing a remote broadcast coverage solution for the Santos Festival of Cycling, to now be back into full gear for the 2023 Santos Tour Down Under is beyond exciting.
“Planning began 12 months ago working closely with Events South Australia and partners to ensure an engaging world class broadcast for not only cycling fans, but viewers new to the sport.
“With the returning calibre of riders competing, fabulous countryside, and dedicated fans who line the race routes, the 2023 Santos Tour Down Under will be an event and broadcast to remember.”
Gravity Media Australia’s partnership with Events South Australia in delivering the broadcast and technology solutions and creating the television production for the Santos Tour Down Under builds on Gravity Media’s acknowledged broadcast technology and production partnerships across major sports in Australia.
This includes the Melbourne Cup and all major horse racing events in Australia, the Australian Open Tennis, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Supercars Championship including the Bathurst 1000, the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne, the FIM World Supercross Championship, a partnership with Cricket Australia for the coverage of multiple competitions in Australia, and the rapidly expanding and developing AFLW.
Through its studios, production, and post-production centres, outside broadcast facilities and specialist camera technologies, Gravity Media Australia is also currently involved with major production companies, television networks and pay television and streaming platforms in Australia across projects including Australian Ninja Warrior, The Masked Singer, Australia’s Got Talent, and I’m A Celebrity.