The German sports TV channel prolongs its media rights contract and will cover the 2012-2017 tournaments on its diverse platforms

Zug, Switzerland / Munich, Germany, 9 November 2010 – SPORT1 strengthens its commitment to ice hockey, continuing the coverage of the IIHF World Championship for another six years. Infront Sports & Media has reached an agreement with the German sports broadcaster for the 2012 – 2017 IIHF World Championship. It is exclusive for the German market and includes television rights (including terrestrial, cable, satellite, broadband), internet and mobile rights (mobile wireless technology) on a FREE and/or PAY basis.

A successful long-term partnership
The IIHF World Championship is the top international event in ice hockey. It takes place annually, involving 16 national teams playing 64 matches (from 2012 onwards). Infront has been handling the marketing and media rights distribution of this event for almost 30 years. Starting from 1998, SPORT1 (former DSF) has regularly secured the coverage of the tournament in Germany, constantly enhancing the awareness and popularity of the sport in this strong winter sport market.

 

“This six-year agreement is the best example for Infront’s long-term approach and focus on persistent partnerships – both allowing for a sustainable development of our properties”, says Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports. “The contract cements the existing partnership between SPORT1, Infront and world-class ice-hockey and will strongly benefit the future development of the sport in Germany.”

 

Intensive coverage
The renewed commitment of SPORT1 builds off the exceptionally successful 2010 staging of the IIHF World Championship in Germany, which reached the highest cumulative television audience in its history, at 734.7 million worldwide. For the upcoming editions of the tournament, SPORT1 will continue to provide ice hockey fans with an intensive coverage of the games on its diverse platforms.

 

“Ice hockey received a considerable boost in recent years and is today an essential part of the sport spectrum that SPORT1 offers to its viewers”, says Zeljko Karajica, CEO of SPORT1. “As we are convinced that Infront will not cease to constantly enhance the appeal of the IIHF World Championship for its partners and the fans, a long-term agreement was the very best decision for us.”

 

Quality signal
SPORT1 will be provided with television pictures and broadcast services that match the best standards on offer in sports today. Since 2009, the IIHF World Championship is fully produced in high definition television (HDTV) quality, providing broadcasters with vibrant pictures and exciting angles of all games.

The 2011 IIHF World Championship will be held in Bratislava and Kosice (Slovakia) from 30 April to 15 May 2011 and can be followed by German fans on SPORT1.

 

Infront – leading in winter sports
Infront Sports & Media, based in Zug, Switzerland, has grown impressively in recent years and is today one of the leading international sports marketing agencies in the world. The company employs more than 500 employees across 24 offices in 10 countries and enjoys long-lasting partnerships with around 130 rights holders and hundreds of commercial partners.

 

Infront has focused strongly on developing its role in winter sports, to the point that it now represents six of seven Olympic winter sport federations at international level. This includes a long-term partnership with the IIHF in world ice hockey and a major role in international skiing, where it manages more than 90% of the media and/or marketing rights to FIS World Cup events. Partnerships with the FIBT for bobsleigh and skeleton, FIL for luge, the IBU for biathlon and the WCF for curling complete Infront’s winter sports portfolio. As a result Infront is able to offer the very best winter sports opportunities from one central source.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Jörg Polzer
Associate Director, Corporate Communications
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
press infrontsports.com 
www.infrontsports.com

 

Thomas Deterding

Communications

SPORT1 GmbH

Tel. +49-89-960 66 12 33

Fax +49-89-960 66 12 09

thomas.deterding sport1.de