2011/12 news coverage of FIS World Cups provides broadcasters with valuable content and sports with higher exposure

Zug, Switzerland, 19 October 2011 – The International Ski Federation (FIS) and Infront Sports & Media are extending their collaboration in respect to news coverage of the FIS World Cup competitions for the 2011/12 season. The production of video news releases (VNRs) for the FIS events in various disciplines was successfully introduced last season and has brought a new dimension to the media exposure of FIS World Cup skiing. The service provides the production and distribution of quality coverage directly from the events to both fans and broadcast media - helping to further increase the international reach of the competitions.

More online coverage for fans
This year - the second season Infront handles the VNR service - will be extended to include content production for two further disciplines; the Nordic Combined and Ladies Ski Jumping events. In addition, the distribution channels for the 2011/12 season have been increased. As well as all programming being made available free-of-charge via the established dedicated players on the various FIS discipline websites, National Ski Associations now also have the possibility to embed the FIS News Players, a dedicated FIS online video module, into their own websites - all 100% accessible worldwide.

Improved content offering for broadcasters
Furthermore, broadcasters will be provided with broadcast-standard quality coverage through web portal access free-of-charge for the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup and FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup events.

The ambition for 2011/12 is to once again increase audience interest by promoting and distributing the FIS World Cups programming through all available media platforms. Simultaneously, the availability of broadcast quality coverage to worldwide media provides an additional option to broaden exposure. Introduced last year, the broadcast service was highly appreciated worldwide and proved very popular. Broadcasters are offered access to a web portal which remains active throughout the entire season.

Each Snowboard and Freestyle feed features beauty shots, competition reports and the top three final runs along with interviews and podium coverage. A detailed run down is made available in English with the news provided within four hours from the end of each competition (apart from overseas events where a detailed delivery schedule based on time differences will be issued).

The news coverage is produced by Infront in co-operation with Mainstream Marketing, a US-based sport event management company. The files will be provided in WMV and MPEG2 format, 25 fps, 16:9 (4:3 safe) aspect ratio and 720x576 frame size. The initiative is managed by Infront Italy and its dedicated competence centre for digital media and post-production.

2010/11 figures prove valuable boost of exposure
The 2010/11 news coverage for the LG Snowboard and the FIS Freestyle World Cup provided valuable exposure which boosted awareness and broadened exposure for the sports. The programming amounted to the production of 120 news videos (a total of eight hours) with over one hundred different worldwide media and broadcasters distributing up to 67 hours of coverage across TV and online platforms.

Access to the news coverage for all other events also proved popular. There were a total of 289 edited videos produced which equated to 15 hours of programming - all accessible across the FIS Players. Access to the coverage totaled over 417,000 page views with FIS Cross Country and FIS Alpine coverage - two of the most highly accessed - each gauging over 150,000 page views.  

Sarah Lewis, FIS Secretary General, said: “The popularity of the video news releases from last year was clearly our motivation for extending the coverage for 2011/12. The internet enables us to make sure all fans and media have the chance to see exciting FIS action across all disciplines. The news project has proved highly popular amongst both broadcasters - appreciative of the extended and free footage - and the fans.”

Roberto Nosotti, Director Winter Sports at Infront, said: “The aim of the project this year is to expand on what was achieved in 2010/11. We are continuing to deliver fresh FIS World Cup images from one central source and to encourage broadcasters to show news highlights of the booming disciplines of snowboard and freestyle skiing. However, this year we have also extended the production to include Nordic Combined and Ladies Ski Jumping. The results from last years programme production and distribution proved very positive and we expect the same value-added to the overall exposure of the FIS events as a result of this year's expanded project.”

About FIS
FIS is the governing body for international skiing and snowboarding, founded in 1924 during the first Olympic Games in Chamonix, France. Recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIS manages the Olympic disciplines of Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Ski Jumping, Nordic Combined, Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding, including setting the international competition rules. Through its 112 member nations, more than 6'000 FIS ski and snowboard competitions are staged annually. Specific initiatives are undertaken by FIS to promote snow activities as a healthy leisure recreation, notably for the young.

About Infront Sports & Media
Infront Sports & Media, based in Zug, Switzerland, has grown impressively in recent years to become one of the leading international sports marketing groups in the world. Known for its high standards of delivery, the company covers all aspects of a successful sport event – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production and event operations. As a key player in winter sport, football and other summer sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 120 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. With an experienced and passionate team of 500 staff in over 20 offices across 10 countries, the Group helps to annually deliver more than 2,300 event days of top class sport around the world.

For further information, please contact:

Jörg Polzer / Nike Möhle
Corporate Communications
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
press@infrontsports.com
www.infrontsports.com

Riikka Rakic
FIS Communications Manager
Tel. +41-79-64 34 281
rakic@fisski.ch
www.fis-ski.com

 
Broadcast Partner Contact:

Anna Banach
Manager, TV and Media Rights
Infront Italy Srl
Tel. +39-02-77 11 21
rights@infrontsports.com