Tuesday March 5th, 2002

ABC Sports channel have reached a one-year agreement with Formula One for the network to broadcast four Grands Prix in the United States during the 2002 season.

The announcement was made by Howard Katz, president of ABC Sports, and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

"After the success in the ABC broadcast of the USA round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, I am very pleased to have more rounds of the World Championship broadcast on ABC Sports," said Ecclestone.

Under the agreement, ABC will broadcast four races, beginning with the Monaco Grand Prix on May 26. ABC Sports' telecast schedule of Formula One also includes the Canadian, Italian and the United States Grands Prix.

"We are thrilled to expand our coverage of Formula One racing on ABC Sports," said Katz. "We look forward to bringing Formula One the attention it deserves. Coupled with our IRL coverage, including the Indy 500, ABC is now the home to the world's top open-wheel circuits."

The Speed Channel also announced in February that they will broadcast at least 13 Formula One Grands Prix in the United States.

Published at 18:06:55 GMT