Eurosport and RCS Giro Partnership
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Eurosport and RCS Sport extend and enhance partnership for Giro d'Italia and other major Italian cycling races 4 March 2013 - Eurosport Group and RCS Sport, represented by IMG Media, its exclusive worldwide audiovisual rights consultant, announce the extension and enhancement of their long term partnership for an additional four years with, extended and upgraded live production and broadcasting in High Definition for the first time. The deal covers 2013 to 2016 and involves TV and digital rights for the Giro d'Italia as well as five other major Italian cycling races: Milan - Sanremo, the Giro di Lombardia, Tirreno-Adriatico, Strade Bianche and Roma Maxima. The agreement includes all 70 territories* covered by Eurosport in Europe and Asia-Pacific region. In a change to the previous deal Eurosport now has exclusive rights, in 59 countries**, including key markets such as UK, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Poland. More live action will also be produced with three hours live per stage for the Giro – it was previously two and a minimum of two hours live for the other races per day of competition. All races will also be available in HD for the first time. As part of the deal Eurosport now has sub-licensing rights for the Italian races in all the European territories where Eurosport is exclusive. Digital rights will see all races broadcast on internet and mobile on the Eurosport Player online streaming service. IMG Media, a division of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and media company, was appointed by RCS Sport last year as their exclusive worldwide audiovisual rights consultant and distributor until 2020. Laurent-Eric Le Lay, Chairman, Eurosport Group says: "Eurosport has been a long-term partner of Giro d'Italia since 1998 and contributed to the continuous growth of this premium property in Europe and to the development of its notoriety in Asia and Pacific. We are pleased to extend this partnership for four additional years. With increased live coverage of Giro and other Italian races, HD quality and new exclusivities in 59 countries, Eurosport significantly consolidates its cycling offer. In 2013 our cycling portfolio is more than ever unrivalled and features the best events of the season with the three big Tours, the great classics and more than 40 races". Giacomo Catano, RCS Sport Chief Executive Officer said: “We are so proud and happy about this contract renewal with Eurosport for the TV coverage of our cycling events. Eurosport has been our partner since 1998 and we appreciate this continuous partnership based on mutual trust. We are confident that it will grant both RCS Sport and Eurosport improved results in terms of quality of production and consequently a high audience. On our side, the extensive coverage that Eurosport can guarantee in Europe and in Asia-Pacific is a key factor. We want to thank both Eurosport for its trust in RCS Sport and its long-term projects in cycling, and also our partner IMG, who helped to facilitate this important agreement". Ioris Francini, Executive Vice President of IMG Media says: “We are pleased to see the coverage of Giro d’Italia and the other Italian Classics continue on Eurosport with more coverage than ever before. Eurosport’s expertise in cycling is unrivalled and its growing reach both in Europe, where Eurosport 2 is progressively closing the gap with Eurosport, and in Asia ensures wider distribution and exposure than ever before, The quality of the production and the international reach of Italian cycling are as strong as they have ever been and we are proud to have in Eurosport a key strategic broadcast partner who will showcase Italian cycling across all platforms, broadcast, broadband, tablets and mobile”. 2013 calendar of the races related to the agreement - 2 March: Strade Bianche - 3 March: Roma Maxima - 6-12 March: Tirreno - Adriatico - 17 March: Milano - Sanremo - 4-26 May: Giro d'Italia - 6 October: Il Lombardia *with the exception of France ** In Europe the rights are exclusive for all kinds of broadcast in all territories except Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Monaco, San Marino, Spain, Switzerland and Vatican. In Netherlands, non exclusive rights for Milan San- Remo and Giro di Lombardia races but exclusive live rights for the four other races, including Giro d'Italia In Asia-Pacific, exclusive live rights in all Eurosport's territories except Australia. Eurosport contacts Matt Horler, [email protected], + 33 1 40 93 81 42 Marc Hebert, [email protected], + 33 1 40 93 80 59 IMG contact Gary Double [email protected],: +447768 825114 ABOUT EUROSPORT GROUP The Eurosport Group is Europe's leading sports entertainment group. Eurosport, the n°1 pan- European TV channel, broadcasts in 20 languages and reaches 130 million homes across 54 countries. Eurosport HD is the high definition simulcast of Eurosport. Eurosport 2 broadcasts to 62 million households in 18 languages across 51 countries. Eurosport 2 HD was launched in August 2009. Eurosport Asia-Pacific reaches 17 countries in the region and launched an HD channel in September 2011. Eurosportnews is the sports news channel transmitted worldwide. Eurosport.com, Europe's n°1 online sports destination, has up to 23 million unique users per month (comScore) across an international network of sports websites in 11 languages, including Yahoo! co-branded sites in Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. The Eurosport.com free mobile applications are available in 10 languages. Eurosport Player, Eurosport's web TV service, provides LIVE and on-demand sports to fans' PCs in 53 countries and the Player mobile application is available in up to 34 countries. Eurosport Events is the group's expert division in the management and promotion of international sporting events. About IMG IMG Wordwide is a global sports, fashion and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in more than 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in India, China, Brazil and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academy; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. ABOUT RCS SPORT RCS Sport is a company, 100% controlled by RCS MediaGroup, specialised in sport business, which offers its partners a complete and personalised series of services and a rich rights portfolio. RCS Sport owns 4 UCI World Tour events (the Giro d’Italia, Milan-Sanremo, Il Lombardia and Tirreno-Adriatico) 4 European UCI Calendar events (Strade Bianche, Giro del Lazio, Gran Piemonte and Milan-Torino) and the IAAF Milan City Marathon. RCS Sport is commercial advisor of the Italian Football Federation FIGC, the soccer Serie A team FC Internazionale and the Italian Basketball Federation FIP. In 2012 RCS Sport have partnered with NBA to organize the Italian stage of the NBA European Tour and with FIG to organise the Italian stage of the Golf European Tour. For more information about RCS Sport please visit www.rcsmediagroup.it .