The International Skating Union has today (Tuesday) appointed the Infront agency as its new global media rights partner for the next four seasons.
The agreement, which runs from 2019-20 to 2022-23, means Infront strengthens its market leading position as the commercial partner of all seven Olympic winter sports federations.
The agreement includes media rights across all territories worldwide with the exception of Canada, China, Japan, Korea and USA. The rights encompass the ISU’s flagship events – the annual World and European Championships in speed skating, short track speed skating, figure skating and synchronised skating. It also covers all World Cup and Grand Prix competitions in these disciplines.
Infront replaces the European Broadcasting Union, the consortium of public-service broadcasters, in the role. In March 2014, the EBU acquired media rights to events operated by the ISU for four years, from 2015-16 to 2018-19.
In total, Infront will seek to provide global exposure for more than 120 events during all four seasons, including through both traditional broadcast and digital channels.
In order to promote the events further and support the growth of all disciplines, Infront’s media rights sales approach will include multiple carve-outs providing the ISU with numerous opportunities to exploit selected media rights through their own platforms.
Bruno Marty, Infront’s senior vice-president of winter sports, said: “Our experience working with the Olympic winter sports federations is unique and we are delighted to significantly expand our relationship with the ISU, now with the aim to further the media exposure of the federation’s properties.
“Our network and expertise, and our comprehensive approach in marketing a range of content across multiple distribution platforms, were deciding factors. Our dedication to ensure maximum exposure for skating is a clear indication of our commitment to this partnership.”
Jan Dijkema, ISU president, added: “Skating has a global appeal and providing the exciting moments across all disciplines to new and existing fans is one of our core aims.
“Bringing in Infront as a partner that matches the ISU’s passion for the sport underlines our determination to propel our events to new heights including an increasing focus on digital channels for the younger audience. I look forward to working with Infront as we continue to expand the sport to new markets.”