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| Brief Description |
| Infront Sports & Media AG based in Zug, Switzerland, is one of the most experienced international sports marketing companies in the world with an exceptional track record on major events. Infront looks after a superb range of prestige international sports properties and is recognised for its innovative marketing skills and the provision of specialist services to sport. Infront has been expanding rapidly, both organically and through strategic acquisition. The group now has more than 400 employees across the group, with 24 offices in 11 countries. |
| Profile |
Infront Sports & Media, based in Zug, Switzerland, is an experienced international sports marketing company with a capacity for innovation that is helping to transform the industry.
These innovations have enhanced every area of sports marketing, including distribution of rights, host broadcast, programme production, event operations, brand development and sponsorship and have even taken the industry a step forward into the virtual world through the first true multi-sports online gaming platform.
Infront has been expanding rapidly, both organically and through strategic acquisition, to create a full service agency. It now has 400 employees across 24 offices in 11 countries: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, China, Singapore, South Africa and the Infront Group headquarters in Switzerland.
Infront is led by sports marketing professionals who have been in the industry for many years. As a result, the company enjoys successful partnerships with sport that are productive and long-lasting, based on high standards of delivery and mutual respect. The company is structured around four operational divisions and two service divisions.
First in winter sports
The Infront group is the strongest, most experienced marketing agency in the winter sports arena, representing six out of seven Olympic winter sport federations at international level. This includes a long term partnership with the IIHF in international ice hockey and partnerships with the national Ice Hockey Associations of Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Infront manages more than 90% of the Media and/or Marketing rights to FIS World Cup events. It is also the exclusive marketing partner of the FIS World Ski Championships in all alpine and nordic disciplines. The relationships with the FIBT for bobsleigh and skeleton, the FIL for luge, the IBU for biathlon and the WCF for curling are completing Infront’s remarkable winter sports portfolio. As a result Infront is offering the very best winter sports opportunities from one central source.
Strong in summer sports
Infront has a unique heritage in football, based on its experience in handling the global media rights sales for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups™. It currently handles distribution of the Asian broadcast rights for the 2010/2014 FIFA World Cup™ (in a joint venture with Dentsu). It works with the German Football Federation (DFB), a relationship dating back almost 30 years, as well as with several other European football associations and European football clubs. It has successful partnerships with the European Handball Federation (EHF) and the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball (CEV). Infront is also expanding into new sports through the purchase of Italy’s FGSPORT Group, promoter of the FIM SBK Superbike World Championship.
Leading the way in Asia
Infront has moved rapidly to become the leading sports marketing organisation in China, representing China’s two top sports – football and basketball – at both League and national team level. It has an office in Beijing with 50 staff, offering a powerful combination of international expertise and local market knowledge. The agreements with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) and the Chinese Football Association (CFA) cover all key aspects of not just the marketing but the technical development of the Chinese national teams. Infront has also recently established its “Gateway China”, specifically designed to encourage European based companies and sports, to access the Chinese market by providing experienced consultancy advice and assistance with implementation.
Entertainment – Transforming Sport Business
In a new strategic direction for the group, Infront has launched “Empire of Sports” – a virtual sporting world on line – in a joint venture with F4, a Paris-based video gaming company known for its expertise and state of the art graphics. Empire of Sports is the world’s first massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG) built entirely around sport and offers a wide range of exciting sports games such as tennis, basketball, ski, bobsleigh, fitness, athletics and football. It is a real 3D virtual world that can accommodate millions of players across the globe to interact socially, to challenge one another in sporting competition, and even rise to star status. Capitalising on the unprecedented popularity of persistent gaming worlds, Empire of Sports also opens up a completely new realm for business partners, such as brands, media companies and rights holders.
World-Class Client Services
Infront Sports Services is a new division of the Infront Group, which focuses the servicing experience and operational expertise gained on world events to the needs of other sports. Staffed by highly experienced personnel, it is event-oriented and provides advice, practical help, resources and access to well-tested systems.
It can provide a complete account management solution on a basis that can be more cost-effective than recruiting your own team. Services include a complete hospitality solution through Walch’s Event Hospitality; management of ticketing through a partnership with Ticketcorner; accreditation for sponsors and broadcast partners; venue dressing and advertising - in fact, everything that a successful sports event needs to function efficiently.
Host Broadcasting, Programming & Production
Host Broadcast Services (HBS), as a dedicated, independent host broadcast specialist, helps sports federations and organising committees worldwide to televise their events in the most exciting way, by offering its highly developed and technologically advanced service, delivering true value for money, on budget and on time. The Host Broadcasting division of HBS is in charge of major Host Broadcast contracts for world events such as the FIFA World Cup™ - events which typically run for 3-4 weeks or more; involve several years of planning, the creation of an International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and the provision of tailored facilities and services.
HBS established a dedicated Programming & Production division in 2007: (A) To expand multimedia and production capabilities of the group (B) To develop new business in the area of sports production (C) To contribute - as the in-house production arm – to Infront’s growing business opportunities
The Production & Programming division focuses mainly on production-led projects, working on shorter timescales where a smaller infrastructure is required. The division works to the same high quality level as the HB Division and uses the same methodologies, systems and techniques to deliver world-class products and solutions.
A Strong New Media Competence
Infront’s innovative service offerings are completed by a dedicated competence centre for the distribution of new media sports rights, Infront Advanced Media Solutions, located in Milan, Italy. As a one-stop-shop for producing, delivering, protecting and billing new media content, it lets clients expose their events globally. The company produces a variety of new media services, including the official FIS Ski World Cup magazine programme, Euroleague.tv, SerieA.tv and Snowtime Channel (www.snowtime.com), a branded block of programmes and footage dedicated to winter sports. |
| Major Events |
| America’s Cup, Asian Games, CBA League, DFB Pokal, EHF European Handball Championship, FIFA World Cup and other FIFA events, FIS World Cup, FIS World Championship, IAAF World Championship, IIHF World Championship, Ligue 1, Serie A Superbike World Championship, etc. |
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| More Information at |
| http://www.infrontsports.com |
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