RED BULL FLIES HIGH AS IMG MEDIA SELLS AIR RACES TO CHINA

London, 26 July 2007 - Sales soar as 200 million more households tune inIMG Media today announced that it has sold the Red Bull Air Races to China's CCTV-5, furthering the sport's reach by 200 million households.

The deal means that the spectacular aerial contest is now seen in more than 625 million households worldwide, and comes just a year after Red Bull Air Race GmbH announced a three-year partnership naming IMG Media as its exclusive worldwide sales agents.

Since 2006, IMG Media has negotiated successfully on behalf of Red Bull in numerous territories, with some of the most-watched TV stations, including RTL in Germany, Channel 4 in the UK, Fox Sports Networks in USA, and Fox Sports in Latin America as well as AXN in Asia.

Currently half-way through the 2007 Red Bull Air Race World Series, this weekend will see the London leg of the competition, the first time the event has ever been staged in the capital. Thousands of people are expected to watch the spectacle as Britain’s Paul Bonhomme – currently leading the series – takes on 11 other pilots on a swerving slalom course just metres above the River Thames right next to the The O2.

IMG Media Vice President Olaf Jochmann said: "This spectacular event has enormous worldwide appeal, with each race attracting crowds of up to 1.2 million people and over 70 television stations showing the action globally. The Red Bull Air Race World Series has really captured the public’s imagination, and by signing CCTV-5 we are proud to extend the sport’s coverage into a further 200 million more homes."

CCTV-5 is the only national sports channel covering all of China, and will show all 11 episodes of the race series.

Coverage of the series, shown in the UK on Channel 4, is being produced by TWI, IMG Media's sports production arm, and Tiger Aspect Productions, also an IMG Media company.

The London races, on 28 and 29 July, will showcase the unique nature of the competition, with giant Air Gates built on floating barges on the Thames. The daredevil pilots will reach speeds of up to 400 kph (250mph) and face forces of up to 10G. Bonhomme will hope to retain his position at the top of the leader board, after beating off American Mike Mangold to win the fifth race of the season in Interlaken, Switzerland. The Red Bull Air Race World Series was conceived in 2001.