Dave grabs World Rally Championships

Dave has snatched the UK broadcast rights to the World Rally Championships from ITV.

The UKTV channel has signed a three year deal with International Sportsworld Communicators for coverage rights to the WRC, which previously aired on ITV4.

"Rallying has a huge following in Britain and has found its natural home on Dave," said UKTV's acting head of commissioning Jane Rogerson. "We’re looking forward to working with North One, who have made formula one a smash hit, to bring the championships to as wide an audience as possible."

North One will produce a weekly 60 minute show based on the WRC coverage to go out on Sunday nights.

"We are naturally delighted to have secured such a commitment in the UK," said ISC chief executive Simon Long. "Dave is very much a channel on the march and its plans to work with us to push WRC into the future were key to our decision to join forces. Dave’s demographic and style is perfect for us."

UKTV controller Matthew Littleford added: "Dave has had an astonishing launch and bringing this sport to the channel will give our male skewing audience a compelling and entertaining line up of fab content. It’s brilliant to be working with North One and ISC to bring the show to life."