FIS extends broadcasting deal with Infront, adds YouTube videos

By Published On: October 17th, 2013Comments Off on FIS extends broadcasting deal with Infront, adds YouTube videos

FREE STYLE - FIS WC Sotschi, Half Pipe, DamenZUG, Switzerland – The International Ski Federation (FIS) and Infront Sports & Media are extending their collaboration in respect to news coverage and distribution of the FIS World Cup competitions for the 2013/14 and 2014/2015 seasons. The extended agreement was signed yesterday (Oct. 16) in the presence of the sports media community at Sportel, Monaco. As a major element of the project, the free distribution of World Cup freestyle and snowboard news clips to broadcasters will be extended. In addition, the official FIS YouTube channels will, from this season onward, feature alpine, nordic, freestyle and snowboard clips – available free of charge to fans worldwide, excluding Germany and the United States where exclusive broadcasting agreements are in place.

The production of video news releases (VNRs) for various FIS disciplines is now into its fourth successful season – providing broadcasters and fans with valuable content and the sports with higher exposure. Infront’s dedicated production and post-production unit produces the clips for all FIS alpine, cross country, ski jumping, nordic combined, snowboard and freestyle World Cup events where Infront manages media rights. Over the past three seasons, this distribution of quality coverage directly from the competitions has helped to increase the international reach of FIS events across the world.

Under the extended agreement and in order to more extensively promote the two youth oriented disciplines – the snowboard and freestyle World Cup – broadcasters will continue to be provided with broadcast-standard quality coverage of these events through the web portal free of charge. 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.

As a major novelty this year, clips across all disciplines produced by Infront will be made available on the official FIS YouTube channel. This includes alpine and nordic events, of which three minute clips will be made available by Infront within six hours from the end of each race and offered free of charge to fans around the world excluding Germany and the U.S.

“The popularity of the video news releases over recent years has remained consistent and was a clear motivator for continuing the service” said FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis. “With its post-production, distribution and digital media expertise, Infront supports us in boosting our sports’ coverage on various channels and around the world. Distributing the FIS World Cups programming through all available media platforms is highly appreciated by the fans, and with the free material we can even offer an additional benefit to our broadcast partners.”

“The extension of the project for two seasons is a result of its appreciation by fans and broadcasters,” added Bruno Marty, executive director of winter sports at Infront. “Together with the FIS and all national skiing federations, our overall ambition to increase audience interest by promoting and distributing the FIS World Cup programming through television as well as digital media remains. In this spirit, we are focusing on the development of both the established and emerging disciplines to reach new audiences and increase levels of exposure year on year.”

This behind the scenes summer training feature shot in Zermatt is from the FIS Alpine YouTube channel that will also host Infront clips once the season starts:

Release courtesy of Infront Sports & Media, photo credit: GEPA/Daniel Goetzhaber

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