IMG SPORTS MEDIA NAMED EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION PARTNER FOR FEI

IMG Sports Media announced today it has signed a two-year deal with FEI – Fédération Equestre Internationale, the international body governing equestrian sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to represent the worldwide (excluding some events held by the EBU) media rights including TV broadcast, Closed Circuit and VOD but excluding Broadband and IPTV.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Vaulting, Reining and Para-Equestrian. It establishes the regulations and approves the equestrian programmes at Championships, Continental and Regional Games as well as the Olympic Games.  Equestrian sport is one of the few sports where men and women compete on equal terms..  In 2007, 2153 International competitions (CIs) were organised. Eighty-eight National Federations organised at least one event; France was the country which organised the largest number of competitions (259), followed by Germany (205) and the United States of America (205). With 790 competitions, Jumping is FEI’s largest discipline, followed by Endurance (466) and Eventing (428).

Beatrice Saunier, Head of TV & Media Business Affairs, France, IMG Sports Media said: “IMG Sports Media is thrilled to be representing FEI within our portfolio. IMG hopes to create a long standing partnership using our wide range of expertise within the company.  In addition to distributing these prestigious FEI event , IMG has also been advising on the production side for the FEI, showcasing the scope of the unique offer within our organisation.”

Carsten Couchouron, FEI Executive Director, Commercial, said: “ The FEI is looking forward to a fruitful partnership and to benefit from IMG’s extensive TV distribution network to showcase the FEI’s international championships and series to new audiences and new markets not covered under its current EBU agreement.”