McLaren-Honda announces Star Sports India as corporate partner

Star Sports India has today been unveiled as a Corporate Partner of McLaren-Honda as part of an agreement that will include the production of exclusive viewer content and fan competitions.

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Already a broadcasting innovator, Star Sports India has transformed sports coverage in its native country. The country’s leading sports network, Star Sports India engages audiences across ten dedicated sports channels (Star Sports 1, 2, 3, 4 and Star Sports HD1, HD2, HD3 and HD4 and Star Sports Select HD1 & HD2).

Star Sports, as the exclusive broadcast partner of the FIA Formula One World Championship™, plans to showcase the best-in-class Formula 1 experience on its Star Sports Select HD channels and continue to grow the sport’s fan base throughout India.

The partnership will see McLaren-Honda and Star Sports India work together to create bespoke content, including exclusive interviews, for their TV and digital channels that will help bring viewers and fans even closer to the team and the global sport of Formula 1.

As part of the agreement, viewers will have the opportunity to win an exciting range of prizes, including the chance to win a trip to join the team trackside at a Grand Prix race weekend, ride in a McLaren high-performance road car or meet the McLaren-Honda drivers.

Star Sports India branding will be displayed prominently on the drivers’ overalls of McLaren-Honda teammates Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne throughout the season.

Star Sports India is part of the Star India network which reaches around 650 million viewers every month and has been entertaining viewers for over 20 years. Boasting over 40 channels in eight languages, Star India is now one of India’s leading media forces, owns an entertainment channel portfolio that includes Star Gold, Channel V, Star World, Star Movies and Life OK. Star is a fully owned subsidiary of 20th Century Fox.

As well as a leading presence in regional broadcasting, Star India also produces and distributes film content through Fox Star Studios, an affiliate joint venture company.

Zak Brown, Executive Director, McLaren Technology Group, said:

“It’s always exciting to bring a new Partner onboard. I’ve had that feeling a few times in my career so far! With Star Sports India joining a brand as eponymous as McLaren the fit is as obvious as it is compelling. We are a sports and technology company – racers at heart, of course, and, therefore, innovators in everything we do. And talking to Star Sports India, we quickly discovered a similar innovative mind-set and shared passion for how we engage sports fans through great content. That’s why I’m really looking forward to working with the great team at Star Sports India and seeing what we can achieve together to bring fans even closer to the sport we love.”

Commenting on the agreement, a Star India spokesperson said:

“Star Sports India has always strived to build a multi-sport culture in the country and our strategic partnership with McLaren-Honda furthers this agenda. McLaren-Honda is one of the most successful teams in F1 history and their passion for technology and pushing the boundaries on innovation aligns with our mission here. Indian sports fans have always shown interest in engaging with multiple sports and this association will help viewers to closely engage with all the on-ground action of Formula 1.”