The Ocean Race, Red Sea Global and Warner Bros. Discovery join forces with innovative partnership

Leg 1 of The Ocean Race starts 15 January 2023 in Alicante, Spain © Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race

Following the recent announcement of an extensive new relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery, The Ocean Race has confirmed a new partnership agreement which will be the first to be amplified via its worldwide broadcast partner.

Red Sea Global, the ambitious regenerative tourism developer, becomes The Ocean Race's Regenerative Project Partner and the agreement encompasses a partnership rights package for the next two editions of the Race.

As a partner, Red Sea Global will help promote the race and drive awareness of the importance of ocean health to an international audience. The partnership will see Red Sea Global, primarily through its project The Red Sea, collaborate with The Ocean Race in holding events and educational initiatives, supported by content developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery.

For its part of the collaboration, Warner Bros. Discovery will harness its content capabilities and global reach to produce a series of short features around the ocean and travel in the region. The content will air around its live broadcast of The Ocean Race during 2023 and adds to Warner Bros. Discovery's multi-year race coverage.

"The Red Sea is a new type of development, and has a vision to prioritise both people and planet based around commitments in support of regenerative tourism. Similarly, this is an innovative new type of partnership for us, where our respective collaborations with Red Sea Global and Warner Bros. Discovery results in a stronger outcome in pursuit of this goal," said Johan Salén, The Ocean Race.

"We hope this will become a new template for other partnerships going forward, focusing on collaborations with purpose while taking advantage of the production and distribution power of a worldwide broadcast partner such as Warner Bros. Discovery for the benefit of all involved," Salén continued.

"We are proud to become the Regenerative Project Partner of The Ocean Race. Sustainability sits at the very heart of our work at Red Sea Global, so The Ocean Race - and its impressive ambitions when it comes to ocean health - makes them a natural fit as a partner," said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global.

"The sea has always been an important part of Saudi Arabia's history and heritage - dating back to the ancient spice trade routes, and creating thriving communities along its coasts. Through this partnership, we hope to support the efforts of The Ocean Race to raise awareness of the challenges facing our oceans globally today, and protect the outstanding beauty of the marine ecosystems in areas such as the Red Sea. At the same time, we want to nurture the next generation of sailors and build a sailing legacy for years to come," Pagano concluded.

"We are proud to be the worldwide broadcaster for The Ocean Race and welcome the opportunity to build on the stories we will tell about sailing's toughest round the world race with those around the Red Sea Global project, particularly this combined effort to promote ocean health and its wider conservation. Around our race coverage and through our platforms, we have a unique ability to share greater understanding of these stories with a scaled and broad international audience. We look forward to utilising Warner Bros. Discovery's creative capabilities to further expand awareness of our partner's goals and initiatives all-year round," said Mike Rich, Head of Sports Marketing Solutions, Warner Bros. Discovery.