Infront Announces Extensive Broadcast Coverage and Marketing Highlights for EHF's Premier Event
The start of the 2008 EHF European Handball Championship, running from January 17-27, will feature the most comprehensive global media and marketing programme implemented by Infront Sports & Media, the exclusive commercial partner for the European Handball Federation’s (EHF) premier event.
The tournament is taking place in Norway, bringing together Europe’s best men’s handball teams. The line-up includes established handball countries from Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, France and Russia, as well as successful teams from smaller countries such as Croatia and Slovenia. The 48 games will be played in five host cities Bergen, Drammen, Lillehammer (finals), Stavanger and Trondheim.
Infront’s longstanding relationship with the event is stronger than ever and the company will deliver worldwide coverage, including dedicated live online coverage on http://www.ehf-euro.com/, the official website of the event, and a comprehensive marketing programme.
Extensive Broadcast Coverage
Distribution of the media rights for the Championship has been very successful. Infront concluded agreements for 80 territories – particularly in Europe, Middle East and Asia – and the event will be transmitted by more than 70 broadcasters, including a record number of almost 20 radio stations.
Most of these broadcasters will provide live or near-live transmissions, depending on the time zones and broadcaster schedules. In addition, there is a high level of news access coverage. News access will be available worldwide through broadcast partners with international television stations, such as SNTV and Deutsche Welle TV.
The host broadcasting for 2008 EHF European Handball Championship, overseen by Infront and being carried out by TV 2 Norway, will provide a state-of-the-art multi- and unilateral broadcast production. This includes filming and transmitting a high quality signal, as well as supporting broadcasters in their unilateral production, transmission and commentary facilities and services. The production will include up to 14 cameras per game. For the first time in the history of the event, all games will be covered and distributed in wide-screen 16/9 format.
Infront has increased the television coverage of both the Men’s and Women's European Handball Championships significantly since the inception of the events in 1994. Viewing for both 2006 European competitions (men’s & women’s events combined) exceeded the benchmark level set in 2004. The 2006 events had a cumulative viewing audience of 1.2 billion, with more than 1,200 hours of programming.
Live and on demand online
The official website, http://www.ehf-euro.com/, will again be jointly produced by the EHF and Infront. This platform offers fans extensive information about the event, participating nations, players and live game statistics. The coverage of the 2008 EHF European Handball Championship will be highlighted by a dedicated online broadcast service produced by Infront Advanced Media Solutions. The complete schedule of all games will be offered Live and On Demand. Prices for the service range from €3.50 for a single game (delayed) to €29 for the entire live tournament package. A variety of other services will ensure that the event website will once again be one of the most successful event websites in 2008.
A comprehensive marketing programme for international brands
The marketing programme for the 2008 EHF European Handball Championship has been developed to provide enhanced visibility, perimeter and board advertising, on-floor signage, branding on referees’ shirts, media backdrops and promotion stands. The program also includes VIP hospitality services.
The Official Sponsors include eight well-known international and regional companies and brands: AJ (Home and office furniture; Sweden), Gjensidige (Insurance services, Norway), Grundfos (Pump solutions, Denmark), Henkel (Consumer Products, Germany), Konica Minolta (Copies and document solutions, Japan), Intersport (Sports retailing, Switzerland), Posten (Postal Services, Norway), and Spar (Food retailing, Norway).
EHF and Infront – Partners for 15 years
Infront Sports & Media’s relationship with the EHF dates back to 1993, when the Swiss-based sports marketing group took over the responsibility for both the television distribution and marketing of the European Handball Championship on a worldwide basis. In June 2007 the EHF and Infront have signed an exclusive agreement extending their existing marketing partnership to cover the Men's and Women's European Handball Championships to 2012 and 2014. EHF President Tor Lian said, “Our long-term partnership with Infront constantly strengthens the European Handball Championship on an international level. We jointly developed the EHF’s top events for commercial partners and have expanded its following among fans. We look forward to welcome our loyal sponsors and broadcast partners as well as the global handball community to Norway for the upcoming two weeks.”
Stephan Herth, Infront’s Executive Director Summer Sports, said, “The tournament is not only a sporting highlight but a powerful communication platform for leading brands, especially through extensive broadcast coverage and new live and on demand online services. We are confident that this year’s event will deliver another success story in terms of reach and exposure around the world building on past successes.”
For further information, please contact:
Jörg Polzer
Manager, Communication & PR
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
press@infrontsports.com
http://www.infrontsports.com/
Sian Rowland
Corporate Communications Manager
European Handball Federation
Event Tel. +47-95 26 65 87
Tel. +43-1-801 51 161
Fax +43-1-801 51 149
mailto:rowland@eurohandball.com
http://www.ehf-euro.com/
The tournament is taking place in Norway, bringing together Europe’s best men’s handball teams. The line-up includes established handball countries from Scandinavia, Germany, Spain, France and Russia, as well as successful teams from smaller countries such as Croatia and Slovenia. The 48 games will be played in five host cities Bergen, Drammen, Lillehammer (finals), Stavanger and Trondheim.
Infront’s longstanding relationship with the event is stronger than ever and the company will deliver worldwide coverage, including dedicated live online coverage on http://www.ehf-euro.com/, the official website of the event, and a comprehensive marketing programme.
Extensive Broadcast Coverage
Distribution of the media rights for the Championship has been very successful. Infront concluded agreements for 80 territories – particularly in Europe, Middle East and Asia – and the event will be transmitted by more than 70 broadcasters, including a record number of almost 20 radio stations.
Most of these broadcasters will provide live or near-live transmissions, depending on the time zones and broadcaster schedules. In addition, there is a high level of news access coverage. News access will be available worldwide through broadcast partners with international television stations, such as SNTV and Deutsche Welle TV.
The host broadcasting for 2008 EHF European Handball Championship, overseen by Infront and being carried out by TV 2 Norway, will provide a state-of-the-art multi- and unilateral broadcast production. This includes filming and transmitting a high quality signal, as well as supporting broadcasters in their unilateral production, transmission and commentary facilities and services. The production will include up to 14 cameras per game. For the first time in the history of the event, all games will be covered and distributed in wide-screen 16/9 format.
Infront has increased the television coverage of both the Men’s and Women's European Handball Championships significantly since the inception of the events in 1994. Viewing for both 2006 European competitions (men’s & women’s events combined) exceeded the benchmark level set in 2004. The 2006 events had a cumulative viewing audience of 1.2 billion, with more than 1,200 hours of programming.
Live and on demand online
The official website, http://www.ehf-euro.com/, will again be jointly produced by the EHF and Infront. This platform offers fans extensive information about the event, participating nations, players and live game statistics. The coverage of the 2008 EHF European Handball Championship will be highlighted by a dedicated online broadcast service produced by Infront Advanced Media Solutions. The complete schedule of all games will be offered Live and On Demand. Prices for the service range from €3.50 for a single game (delayed) to €29 for the entire live tournament package. A variety of other services will ensure that the event website will once again be one of the most successful event websites in 2008.
A comprehensive marketing programme for international brands
The marketing programme for the 2008 EHF European Handball Championship has been developed to provide enhanced visibility, perimeter and board advertising, on-floor signage, branding on referees’ shirts, media backdrops and promotion stands. The program also includes VIP hospitality services.
The Official Sponsors include eight well-known international and regional companies and brands: AJ (Home and office furniture; Sweden), Gjensidige (Insurance services, Norway), Grundfos (Pump solutions, Denmark), Henkel (Consumer Products, Germany), Konica Minolta (Copies and document solutions, Japan), Intersport (Sports retailing, Switzerland), Posten (Postal Services, Norway), and Spar (Food retailing, Norway).
EHF and Infront – Partners for 15 years
Infront Sports & Media’s relationship with the EHF dates back to 1993, when the Swiss-based sports marketing group took over the responsibility for both the television distribution and marketing of the European Handball Championship on a worldwide basis. In June 2007 the EHF and Infront have signed an exclusive agreement extending their existing marketing partnership to cover the Men's and Women's European Handball Championships to 2012 and 2014. EHF President Tor Lian said, “Our long-term partnership with Infront constantly strengthens the European Handball Championship on an international level. We jointly developed the EHF’s top events for commercial partners and have expanded its following among fans. We look forward to welcome our loyal sponsors and broadcast partners as well as the global handball community to Norway for the upcoming two weeks.”
Stephan Herth, Infront’s Executive Director Summer Sports, said, “The tournament is not only a sporting highlight but a powerful communication platform for leading brands, especially through extensive broadcast coverage and new live and on demand online services. We are confident that this year’s event will deliver another success story in terms of reach and exposure around the world building on past successes.”
For further information, please contact:
Jörg Polzer
Manager, Communication & PR
Infront Sports & Media AG
Tel. +41-41-723 15 15
Fax +41-41-723 15 16
press@infrontsports.com
http://www.infrontsports.com/
Sian Rowland
Corporate Communications Manager
European Handball Federation
Event Tel. +47-95 26 65 87
Tel. +43-1-801 51 161
Fax +43-1-801 51 149
mailto:rowland@eurohandball.com
http://www.ehf-euro.com/