Ironman Triathlon Series Sells Global Broadcast Rights to Various Partners

World Triathlon Corporation’s (WTC) Ironman and Ironman 70.3 endurance triathlon races, has secured media rights agreements with broadcast partners around the world for a new series of 14×26 minute magazine programmes covering the events.

As a result, coverage from many of the most popular Ironman races will be available to fans on television in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. The rights were distributed by Infront Sports & Media.

The new agreements in place cover key European, Asian and American territories for the Ironman series – including amongst others the UK (BskyB and Channel 4), Germany (Sport1), Austria (ORF), Scandinavia and Baltics (Viasat, Nelonen and TV2 Norway for selected territories), Czech Republic (Sport1), China (Guangdong TV), Brazil (ESPN Brazil) and the USA (Universal Sports). The sequence is produced by Host Broadcast Services, Infront’s wholly owned subsidiary. 

Following the season’s intro, the Ironman race in Regensburg, Germany was the first event covered by the series. The Ironman race in Zurich, Switzerland on 15 July will be the next in line. Each of the 14 shows – stretching throughout the season – has a length of 26 minutes, featuring race footage as well as location, training, results/ standings, athlete profiles and background information. 

Stefan Petschnig, Executive Manager Europe & South Africa of the World Triathlon Corporation, commented: “The new agreements prove that Infront has effectively detected the needs of broadcasters around the world – bringing the best of our sport into a convenient 26 minute format. On top of that, fans are benefitting not only from one-off broadcasts, but from ongoing coverage as the magazine series stretches out across the entire season.”

Stephan Herth, Executive Director Summer Sports of Infront Sports & Media, said: “The positive take-up shows that broadcasters consider Ironman sports as an appealing product that will be appreciated and followed by their audiences. They value the captivating format, which features the essence of the sport and is produced to the highest international standards. The new contracts mark just the start of a continued push to further extend Ironman and Ironman 70.3 coverage around the world.”

The core Ironman series takes place around the globe starting in April and leading up to the World Championship Finals in Kona, Hawaii each October. The magazine programming offered by the WTC and Infront features most of the European races, including amongst others the Ironman United Kingdom (Bolton, 22 July), the Ironman 70.3 European Championship (Wiesbaden, 12 August) and the Ironman Sweden (Kalmar, 18 August).