Extreme E's documentary series hits global screens
Extreme E, the electric off-road racing series, has many stories to tell, whether that’s the racing itself, its equality stance or its missions around climate change and the environment. With just five X Prixs, telling all those stories throughout the weekend broadcast is impossible, which is why the series is creating a magazine show – Electric Odyssey – and two of the 20 episodes are available to watch now - with episode three being released at 1800 GMT today - on TV screens through a variety of global broadcasters in 180 countries including ITV in the UK, FOX in the US, Canada and Asia, TV2 in Hungary, Cosmote in Greece, ORF in Austria, SuperSport in Africa and TVNZ in New Zealand.
The 26-minute shows target an environmentally aware audience with a passion for adventure, and with unrivalled behind-the-scenes access to the creation and progression of this brand new motorsport, the episodes take the audience on a journey through all of Extreme E’s race action and sporting insight as well as its stories of climate change, science, sustainability and exploration to keep the conversation alive between each X Prix.
Ali Russell, Chief Marketing Officer at Extreme E, said: “Electric Odyssey is a great series creating additional depth to the storytelling of the championship and extending the conversation outside of our five events in 2021. The plethora of behind-the-scenes sports shows focusing on football, basketball and Formula One for example show the appetite for this kind of content. But more than that, launches of channels like WaterBear – home to Extreme E content – demonstrates the importance of telling the wider stories of the series outside motorsport.
“I’m delighted that so many of our global broadcast partners are airing this unique content that gives a true insight to the people and personalities behind our unique sport for purpose.”
The shows are being created by Extreme E Studios – a joint venture between Aurora Media and North One – and run from now until January 2022. Using a host of informed voices from drivers such as Sébastien Loeb, Carlos Sainz Snr., Timmy Hansen, Catie Munnings, Jamie Chadwick and Laia Sanz, team owners including Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Chip Ganassi plus Extreme E spokespeople and its Scientific Committee, the episodes will tell stories of each of the race locations, the St. Helena – Extreme E’s floating centrepiece – the climate crisis and the environmental issues each race aims to highlight.
Chris Carpenter, Senior Producer at Aurora Media said: “Extreme E isn’t like many other sporting properties, there’s so much more narrative than just the racing. The Electric Odyssey series gives us a fantastic opportunity to delve deeper into the many other aspects of this championship.
“It’s not just a sports magazine show - it’s a hybrid of content. Along with the incredible racing we’ll be including features about climate science, adventure travel, sustainable technologies and cultural & historical insights. All with the incredible natural back-drop of each event location.
“It’s going to be quite the adventure to make the series but a challenge we are relishing.”
Episode’s two and three focus on Extreme E’s first X Prix in Saudi Arabia, highlighting desertification and the championship’s Legacy Programme in The Red Sea to support turtle conservation.
The next stop for Extreme E is Lac Rose in Dakar, Senegal for the Ocean X Prix and the Electric Odyssey episodes around this race will highlight environmental challenges in the region, the ocean crisis, the Legacy Programmes which include planting one million mangroves and supporting local community project EcoZone, plus of course all the racing action from some of the biggest names in motorsport.
