The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and Infront have hammered out the details of a centralised media rights ‘framework agreement’ that brings to an end a long-running feud over the ownership of FIS World Cup broadcast rights.
The peace deal announced this morning represents a climb-down from Johan Eliasch, the FIS president who had looked to railroad through the centralisation and squeeze out Infront. However, the terms of the agreement provide greater financial rewards for the FIS and its member associations, while also maintaining Infront’s dominant agency position in the sport.
An ‘exclusive agency agreement’ now in place between the international federation and Infront covers the distribution of the multi-platform World Cup international media rights from 2026-27 to 2033-34.
The finances of the eight-year agreement will generate in excess of €100m ($111m) more than the figure raised under the present rights sales, according to FIS and Infront.
Under the current piecemeal approach, Infront holds individual rights agreements with all national associations bar the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV), which has deals with Eurovision Sport and IMG. Following the negotiations with FIS, Infront will continue to be able to execute its existing rights distribution through individual contracts running until the end of the 2025-26 season.
From 2026-27, Infront will enter into a commission-based agency sales agreement with a minimum guarantee of over €600m.