WTC to Offer Magazine Programming for Ironman Series

find 255, 255, 0.917969);”>World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) with the help of Infront Sports & Media are planning to offer 14×26 minute programmes on the race series to media worldwide for the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 endurance triathlon races.

 

The magazine programming will be produced to the highest international standards, transmitting the unique features of the sport, whilst tailoring the long-term endurance format as an attractive, coherent broadcast product. The series will start with a season’s intro available in mid-June, followed by the first race highlights from the Ironman Regensburg (Germany), taking place on 17 June 2012.

 

The magazine programmes will be produced by Host Broadcast Services (HBS), the world’s leading specialist host broadcaster and Infront’s wholly-owned subsidiary. The company will contribute its extensive experience in media production for major sports events, to create a series of television magazine programmes of the highest quality continuously throughout the season. The programming offers approximately 50 per cent race footage as well as results and standings, background on the event location, insight into training sessions, athlete profiles and background coverage – all with English commentary.

 

Stefan Petschnig, Executive Manager Europe & South Africa of the World Triathlon Corporation, commented: “Infront is keeping its word and has supported us in initiating a true media transformation for theIronman sport. We have received very positive feedback already from the first Ironman France programme produced by HBS last year and are now continuing on this path. The high-quality production features will help to transmit the fascination of Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races to TV screens worldwide to catch the attention of the fans as well as attracting new audiences.”

 

Stephan Herth, Executive Director Summer Sports at Infront, said: “The magazine programming is a real first in the Ironman world and will push the current reach and boundaries of the series. We have turned a multi-hour competition format into an exciting 26 minute highlight show, making the sport more consumable for a TV audience and offering an attractive product for broadcasters worldwide. The 14 show series will contribute to a substantial increase of Ironman TV coverage – in quantity and quality, adding significant value to the sport and ensuring continuous visibility throughout the entire season.”

 

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 theWTC and Infront feature most of the European races, including amongst others the Ironman France (Nice, 28 June), IronmanAustria (Klagenfurt, 5 July) and the Ironman European Championship (Frankfurt, 12 July).