Infront, a Wanda Sports Group company (Nasdaq: WSG) and the
exclusive media and marketing partner of the International Ice
Hockey Federation (IIHF), broke records at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey
World Championship, reaching a cumulative audience of over 1.6
billion, according to data provided by X Media Sports Consulting
GmbH. It marked the fourth year in a row the tournament has
surpassed one billion viewers.
Infront secured broadcast agreements for over 155 territories
and provided over 200 hours of footage of the tournament, which
took place in Slovakia from 10 to 26 May 2019.
Reaching fans through broadcast and digital
An on-site production team of more than 130 members delivered
the best moments of the tournament through a 30-camera setup,
bringing fans to the heart of the action. Broadcast technology for
the final weekend included two 4G cameras as well as ultra-slow
motion, ref and cable cameras. In addition, a dedicated broadcaster
servicing team was on-site at both venues to coordinate both
broadcast and production activities.
The production was further supported by digital initiatives,
including behind the scene videos and a new daily podcast, The
Totally Ice Hockey Show, which attracted over 120,000 listeners,
giving them an even more in-depth analysis and overview from the
rink.
More than 2,500 video clips were published on the IIHF's social
media channels, as well, attracting over 88 million views — an
increase of 118 per cent compared to previous tournaments.
In addition, through a partnership with YouTube, fans watching
online were able to easily find the best IIHF content and moments
with the launch of a newly formed content creator network, which
utilized a range of social media influencers who delivered daily
content for IIHF platforms.
Creating the best platform for sponsorship
activation
The tournament offered all 13 official sponsors an ideal
platform to fully engage with ice hockey fans.
For example, ŠKODA –the Guinness World Record holder for longest
sponsorship of a world championship through their continued
agreement with the IIHF – used this opportunity to announce its
KAMIQ small-size SUV vehicle.
Sponsors further benefitted from a unique event space, planned
and coordinated by Infront. Infront leveraged its presence to
create engagement for sponsors at venue sites, which were attended
by more than 470,000 fans during the tournament. More than 5,000
VIP guest were able to enjoy the exclusive space, which included
gourmet food and guest services throughout the tournament.
Infront Senior Vice President of ProSports Bruno Marty said:
“Our aim for the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is the same
every year – to build on and improve what we have provided
previously and set a new standard. For the 2019 edition, we were
able to add another layer to the full-service for the IIHF, our
long-term partner. I look forward to another successful tournament
in 2020 in Switzerland.”
President and CEO of Wanda Sports Group Hengming Yang
said: “We are excited to see Infront’s dedicated efforts to
leverage its technology and experience to drive additional value
for our clients. This new benchmark in fan engagement and sponsor
exposure is the result of WSG’s strong partnership with IIHF and
further underscores the growth opportunities available to us in the
spectator sports business.”
The 2020 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship will take place in
Zurich and Lausanne, Switzerland from 8-24 May.
About Wanda Sports Group Wanda Sports Group
(Nasdaq: WSG) is a leading global sports events, media and
marketing platform with a mission to unite people in sports and
enable athletes and fans to live their passions and dreams. Through
our businesses, including Infront and The IRONMAN Group, we have
significant intellectual property rights, long-term relationships
and broad execution capabilities, enabling us to deliver unrivalled
sports event experiences, creating access to engaging content and
building inclusive communities. We offer a comprehensive array of
events, marketing and media services through three primary
segments: Mass Participation, Spectator Sports and Digital,
Production, Sports Solutions (DPSS). Our full service platform
creates value for our partners and clients as well as other
stakeholders in the sports ecosystem, from rights owners, to brands
and advertisers, and to fans and athletes.
Headquartered in Beijing, China, Wanda Sports Group has more
than 60 offices and 1,600 employees around the world.
About Infront
Connecting fans and consumers to the greatest sports events,
Infront, a Wanda Sports Group company, offers everything an event
or commercial partner needs to be successful. With a team of over
1,000 experts working from 45 offices across more than 16 countries
around the world, Infront is equipped to tackle any challenge – be
it innovative digital solutions, world-class event operations,
international media rights distribution, sponsorship sales and
activations or cutting-edge media production. Headquartered in
Switzerland, Infront is passionate and #AllAboutSports.
@infrontsports www.infront.sport.
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For more information, please contact:
Wanda Sports Group
Edith Kwan
Tel: +86 (10) 8558 7456
E-mail: ir@wsg.cn
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