The Fédération Equestre Internationale, the global governing body of equestrian, has appointed the IMG agency as its production partner.
The two parties have agreed a five-year deal running from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020.
It covers post-production services for the FEI’s entire portfolio of broadcast products across its affiliated series and championships. IMG will also oversee a range of programming for the FEI’s global broadcast partners and digital platforms such as FEI TV, FEI TV On the Go and the FEI YouTube channel.
The terms put IMG in charge of the overall coordination and liaison with the FEI’s host broadcasters on the production of live broadcast signals, as well as providing the FEI with strategic consultancy on broadcast production.
Additionally, IMG will partner with the FEI on its magazine programming, including flagship monthly magazine show FEI Equestrian World, and associated coverage for the annual FEI Awards.
IMG came through a tender process featuring 12 companies, including the FEI’s production partner for most of the past two decades, MBP-TV.
“IMG has the wide expertise we need to grow uptake of our equestrian content globally, and the recent renewal of our distribution partnership with IMG now provides a deep synergy that will deliver enhanced services to the FEI’s broadcast clients,” Christian Osterode, FEI head of broadcasting and media rights, said.
“It is vital that the FEI demonstrates the strengths of equestrian sport against the Olympic backdrop and as our sport grows globally. Working closely with IMG, the FEI will be delivering compelling, cutting-edge content for broadcast, from traditional television to the new digital platforms in online and mobile.”
In December, the FEI renewed its long-standing broadcast distribution partnerships with IMG and the European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters until the end of 2022.