IMG EXTENDS REPRESENTATION DEAL WITH WORLD SNOOKER LTD FOR FURTHER FIVE YEARS

IMG Sports Media announced today it has extended its representation deal with World Snooker Limited (WSL), to distribute the worldwide media rights of all live coverage and highlights (excluding the domestic deal(s)) from WSL events for a further five years until the end of the 2015/2016 season.

The professional snooker circuit includes prestigious tournaments such as the UK Championship, China Open, the Masters and the Betfred.com World Championship. Players from around the world take part in the tour, including Ding Junhui from China, Marco Fu from Hong Kong and Neil Robertson from Australia, as well as some of snooker’s legends such as John Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Stephen Hendry.

Adam Kelly, Marketing Director, IMG Sports Media said: “IMG Sports Media and World Snooker Ltd have managed to increase the audience, exposure and reach of the World Snooker tournaments over the past three years while simultaneously increasing license fee revenues. IMG’s long term ambition is to continue to educate broadcasters worldwide so they understand the appeal of this growing sport. The development in Asia is phenomenal and we hope to further capitalise on this momentum in the coming months.”

Miles Pearce, Commercial Director of World Snooker Ltd, said: “The growth of snooker internationally in recent years has been exceptional, not only in Asia, but in Europe, the Middle East and many other territories across the globe. Snooker is being enjoyed by a growing number of fans around the world through our international broadcast partnerships.  In partnership with IMG we are looking to take the sport to even more territories and expose our great sport to millions of more fans.”

World Snooker Ltd Calendar

Shanghai Masters
7 - 13 September 2009

Grand Prix
3- 11 October 2009

UK Championship
5 - 13 December 2009

Masters
10 - 17 January 2010

Welsh Open
25 - 31 January 2010

China Open
Mar/Apr 2010 – TBC

World Championship
17 April - 3 May 2010