Daniel Ricciardo has been tipped for a tv function as ESPN contemplate choices for increasing their protection of Formula 1.
Ricciardo seems unlikely to return to the grid in 2023 after the ending of his McLaren contract a yr early, with most vacancies seemingly stuffed or deemed undesirable by the Australian.
That might go away the 33-year-old exploring different choices, with broadcasting maybe an choice for the favored driver.
Ricciardo has cast a robust reference to followers of the game of the USA, enjoying to the Austin crowd on the United States Grand Prix by donning a University of Texas Longhorns’ American soccer jersey.
And broadcasting heavyweights ESPN seem eager to know what alternatives there could also be to work with Ricciardo as they appear to additional combine the motorsport into their programming.
“[Daniel Ricciardo]’s obviously a tremendous personality that really resonates with the fans, especially in this country,” mentioned ESPN’s president of programming and unique content material Burke Magnus.
“So nothing specific there, but I don’t think it’s a stretch. I have no idea what he’s interested in doing honestly, but he’s certainly got the personality for our line of work, I would say.
“I think it’s critically important to see F1 drivers through the context of American sport.
“We did a feature last year where we highlighted the friendship that Daniel Ricciardo has with Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills – certainly one of the best NFL quarterbacks going right now. So trying to integrate F1 into our entire portfolio through creative ways of presenting content is definitely top of mind for us.”
The reputation of Formula 1 in America has boomed lately, with the Netflix documentary collection “Drive to Survive” serving to entice better consideration.
Three races shall be hosted within the USA in 2023, with a race in Las Vegas returning to the F1 calendar for the primary time in additional than 40 years.
ESPN are due to this fact eager to innovate and develop their protection, with Magnus citing the success of the channel’s “Manningcast” as a potential path to participating extra “casual fans”.
Introduced forward of the 2021 NFL season, the “Manningcast” is hosted by Super Bowl-winning brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, and gives viewers another type of programming throughout ESPN’s flagship Monday Night Football broadcast.
The pair of former quarterbacks supply perception in a extra laid-back method, internet hosting friends and recalling tales from their NFL careers, with much less of a set concentrate on the in-game motion.
The broadcast has proved well-liked amongst NFL followers, averaging greater than 1.5 million viewers throughout its first season on the air, and Magnus believes an analogous programme may work for Formula 1.
The veteran ESPN government defined: “We haven’t made any firm decisions but Manningcast, for example, that we do on Monday Night Football, something like that for Formula 1 would be incredibly interesting as well – an alternate presentation above the race that could help sweep in casual fans.
“The upside in our business is always the casual fan. The avid fans are going to be there, the upside is getting more casual fans and creating avid fans of them.”
Source: www.impartial.co.uk