BBC Worldwide to Distribute Triathlon International TV Rights
BBC Worldwide, the commercial consumer arm of the BBC, and the International Triathlon Union (ITU) have signed a deal, in which, for the first time, BBC Worldwide will have full international television distribution rights for all ITU events, including the Triathlon World Cup and Triathlon World Championships.
Each year, BBC Worldwide will distribute a total of 16 x 52 minute edited highlight programmes from competitions held all over the world - including Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Live coverage will also be available to broadcasters from some of the venues, including the World Championships, which will take place in New Zealand in December 2003.
BBC Worldwide's Sport Sales Manager, Richard Hornsby-Smith, says, 'The Triathlon produced some of the most memorable images of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is one of the fastest-growing modern sports. Adding such a prestigious property to our catalogue is very exciting for us and underlines BBC Worldwide's commitment to expanding our sports programming portfolio. We are looking forward to a fruitful relationship with the ITU.
'Les McDonald, President of the ITU adds, 'Although the Triathlon is still in its infancy, to have thought 10 years ago that we would have BBC Worldwide acting as our distribution agency would have been an impossible dream. We have begun the task of bringing Triathlon to the home of sport spectators, and with the help of BBC Worldwide, the future looks brilliant.'
Under the terms of the new agreement, the ITU will retain the international broadcast distribution rights for Africa, Asia and Latin America.
For more details contact:
Lisa Ogilvie, ITU Media Manager
(t) +1 604 926 7250
e-mail: lisa@triathlon.org
Each year, BBC Worldwide will distribute a total of 16 x 52 minute edited highlight programmes from competitions held all over the world - including Europe, USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Live coverage will also be available to broadcasters from some of the venues, including the World Championships, which will take place in New Zealand in December 2003.
BBC Worldwide's Sport Sales Manager, Richard Hornsby-Smith, says, 'The Triathlon produced some of the most memorable images of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is one of the fastest-growing modern sports. Adding such a prestigious property to our catalogue is very exciting for us and underlines BBC Worldwide's commitment to expanding our sports programming portfolio. We are looking forward to a fruitful relationship with the ITU.
'Les McDonald, President of the ITU adds, 'Although the Triathlon is still in its infancy, to have thought 10 years ago that we would have BBC Worldwide acting as our distribution agency would have been an impossible dream. We have begun the task of bringing Triathlon to the home of sport spectators, and with the help of BBC Worldwide, the future looks brilliant.'
Under the terms of the new agreement, the ITU will retain the international broadcast distribution rights for Africa, Asia and Latin America.
For more details contact:
Lisa Ogilvie, ITU Media Manager
(t) +1 604 926 7250
e-mail: lisa@triathlon.org