The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has renewed its long-standing broadcast partnerships with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and IMG through to the end of 2022 in agreements that will generate markedly increased coverage of the world’s most prestigious equestrian events.
Following a hotly contested bidding process, the new agreements with EBU and IMG provide the FEI with a guaranteed minimum financial return of an undisclosed eight-figure sum, and substantial additional value-in-kind in distribution and production-related consultancy and services.
The continued partnership with EBU includes broadcast rights to the FEI’s flagship events, including the World Equestrian Games™ (2018 and 2022), the European Championships (2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021), and the World Cup Finals through to the 2018/19 season. Key EBU members have agreed to substantially improved broadcast commitments in the terrestrial, free-to-air sector which will see equestrian sport being shown by public broadcasters throughout Europe.
The renewed agreement with IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion and media, confirms the company’s role as the FEI’s international distributor. IMG will be in charge of distributing the world’s most prestigious and popular equestrian series, including the World Cup and the Nations Cup circuits for the next five years. IMG will also be responsible for the distribution of broadcast rights to the World Equestrian Games™ (2018 and 2022) and the European Championships (2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021) that fall outside the agreement with EBU.
EBU and IMG will continue to work in close partnerships with the FEI on the further development and expansion of its television rights distribution.
“The renewal of our broadcasting partnership with EBU and IMG through to 2022 comes with substantially improved terms and, on top of CNN’s pre-existing commitment to expand its coverage, provides our sport with the perfect showcase for existing fans and for an increasing fan-base world-wide”, FEI Secretary General Ingmar De Vos said. “The fact that we had so many bidders for the process shows that equestrian sport is seen as a really valuable property by the market’s key decision makers. Our partners at EBU and IMG are investing in a product that they truly believe in and they’ll be delivering more equestrian content to more viewers than ever before. We are looking at continuing unprecedented growth in the global coverage of our sport, both in the Olympic and non-Olympic disciplines.”
The FEI invited bids for its broadcast distribution and production in June of this year, with 24 organisations submitting proposals for consideration. Following a rigorous selection process, the shortlisted agencies presented proposals at the FEI Headquarters in Lausanne. Further to today’s announcement on its distribution partners, the FEI confirmed that it will announce its production partner in 2015.
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