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The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and Infront have entered into an exclusive agency agreement covering the distribution of international media rights to FIS World Cup events for all platforms.
Contract:
- Eight-year deal runs from 2026/27 to 2033/34 season
- Minimum compensation to generate €100 million (US$111 million) more than the current revenue for media rights sales
- Infront to enter commission-based agency agreement with a minimum sales guarantee of more than €600 million (US$665 million)
- FIS in full control over the sales process
- Infront to provide exclusive marketing implementation and international media operations services
- Agency gains immediate over-the-top (OTT) streaming rights for dark markets
- Infront gets free-of-charge provision of archive footage and highlights
- Extensive rights to photography, behind-the-scenes coverage, course coverage, and production of documentaries, TV series, motion pictures or similar productions also included
Context:
Infront’s long-standing partnership with the FIS seemed to be under threat, given the federation’s president Johan Eliasch was keen to centralise the FIS World Cup broadcast rights and negotiate deals directly with national skiing associations.
Comment:
“The announcement we are making today with a new framework allowing for a centralised approach begins a new chapter of prosperity for the FIS family,” said Eliasch.
“It will allow for a better product and planning, a digital first approach, more money, investment, and opportunities for our athletes, our disciplines, and our national associations. It will enable us to promote our sport far more widely across all social media channels, reaching a new generation of snow sports fans.”
Coming next:
Before the new agreement kicks in, Infront will continue to carry out its current rights distribution approach based on its deals with individual federations.
