Live broadcast of Malmo Acts

Viasat Sport 3 and ZTV to show footage

When the America's Cup comes to Sweden on 25 August-4 September, Viasat Sport 3 will be showing all the sailing live in seven Nordic and Baltic countries. Additionally, all the matches involving Sweden's Victory Challenge will be shown on ZTV.

"This is a historic sport event as the America's Cup is coming to Sweden for the first time ever," says Magnus Dahlborn, head of Viasat Sport in Sweden. "So we're very pleased to be able to offer our viewers live coverage of the team presentations and nine days of spectacular sailing at the absolute highest level. That the Swedish team Victory Challenge performed so well in the previous Acts in Valencia makes it even more pleasing."

Michel Hodara, Chief Operating Officer for the America's Cup organisers says: "The live coverage by Viasat means that more people can be a part of the America's Cup and specifically, the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts.

The allure of the America's Cup and the success of the Louis Vuitton Acts held to date has now attracted 14 television rights-holders in 12 key territories worldwide, including Europe, North America and Africa. During the Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7, rights-holders will receive seven highlight programmes and 11 Video New Releases for broadcast.

In total, there are ten preliminary rounds being held in 2005, 2006 and the weeks leading up to the Louis Vuitton Cup challenger selection series and America's Cup Match in 2007.

Originally, live coverage wasn't going to start until the Louis Vuitton Cup but the Viasat initiative has changed that plan.

The Malmö-Skåne Louis Vuitton Acts 6 & 7 take the same format as the Acts in Valencia in June. The first Act will comprise match racing with a complete round robin series where all 12 participating teams will meet each other once. The second Act will be a series of five fleet races, where all 12 teams will be on the starting line at the same time.

The Malmö races will start at twelve noon each day, with three simultaneous match races taking place on each of two courses. Approximately one hour after the last boat has crossed the finish line, another round of six matches will be sailed. This takes place on Thursday 25 August until Monday 29 August. Assuming all races have been sailed according to schedule, only one round of six matches will be held on Tuesday 30 August.

Fleet racing will start on 2 September with two races Friday and Saturday. The fifth and final fleet race will be held on Sunday 4 September.

The racing on Viasat Sport 3 will reach Viasat and cable viewers in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.