The International Cycling Union (UCI) has agreed an eight-year deal with the European Broadcasting Union consortium of public-service broadcasters and the IMG agency to distribute the worldwide rights to all its World Championship events.
The agreement will result in the EBU and IMG partnering with the UCI for the annual road, track, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, BMX and urban cycling world championships from 2017 to 2024. It will also include the Track Cycling World Cup and the Cyclo-cross World Cup over the same period.
The rights have been acquired on all platforms for all territories worldwide, subject to ongoing agreements for a limited period in certain territories. The EBU will directly handle rights distribution in Europe and, under a sublicensing agreement with the consortium, IMG will distribute rights for the rest of the world.
In addition, the EBU, through its Eurovision Production Coordination arm, will act as host broadcaster for the Road and Track Cycling World Championships taking place during the course of the agreement.
Brian Cookson, president of the UCI, said: “I am very pleased that we have agreed this new partnership with the EBU and IMG as I am convinced it will bring our main events to the broadest possible audience worldwide. The signing of such a long and significant agreement is further proof of the renewed confidence stakeholders have in the UCI and I am looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the EBU and IMG over the next eight years.”