The Infront Sports & Media agency has extended a rights distribution deal with the Ski Association of Slovenia, along with sealing a new rights contract with public-service broadcaster RTV for events organised by the International Ski Federation (FIS).
The renewal with the SAS, which covers national and international media rights to FIS World Cup events in the country, will run for 10 years, from 2016-17 to 2025-26.
The agreement covers the men’s FIS alpine ski races in Kranjska Gora, the women’s FIS alpine ski events in Maribor, the FIS cross-country races and the FIS men’s ski jumping World Cup finals in Planica, the women’s ski jumping in Ljubno and the snowboard events in Rogla.
It is the fourth occasion the co-operation between Infront and the SAS has been extended, with the two parties having first linked up in 1997.
“Due to Infront’s collective media rights approach for the FIS events, its broad international network and long-term experience in the winter sports market, we have increased the exposure and value of our FIS World Cup events year on year,” the association’s president, Enzo Smrekar, said.
Meanwhile, Infront has renewed its rights agreement with RTV for another five-season FIS World Cup cycle running until the 2020-21 campaign – a deal that includes the Slovenian ski events in Kranjska Gora, Maribor and Planica.
For the first time ever, the agreement comprises all FIS disciplines including the FIS World Cups in Alpine, Cross Country, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Snowboard and Freestyle skiing. The extended and expanded agreement with RTV will provide Slovenian audiences with comprehensive live, delayed and highlights coverage of more than 1,200 races across five seasons on the broadcaster's television and digital platforms.
In addition, RTV has secured the rights to air the 2019 and 2021 FIS Alpine and Nordic World Ski Championships as well as the 2017 FIS Snowboard and Freestyle World Championships. RTV will also be provided with the FIS World Cup magazine programs produced by Infront.
As part of the long-term partnership, RTV will once again handle the media production of the Slovenian events including: the men’s FIS Alpine Ski races in Kranjska Gora, the women’s FIS Alpine Ski events in Maribor, the FIS Cross-Country races and the FIS men’s Ski Jumping World Cup Finals in Planica, the women’s Ski Jumping in Ljubno and the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Rogla.