Guangzhou, China / Zug, Switzerland / Monaco – Yesterday evening, Infront Sports & Media and its parent company Wanda Sports were awarded “Agency of the Year” at the 2016 TV Sports Awards in Monaco. Wanda Sports/Infront was shortlisted alongside competing agency nominees WME/IMG and MP & Silva by an independent committee formed of representatives from influential and well-respected sports media partners, including iSportconnect, Sportcal, SportsPro, TV Sports Markets and SportBusiness International. The broader public was able to cast their votes for the three nominees and Wanda Sports/Infront secured the vast majority of the votes.
Industry recognition for global sports impact
Wanda Sports/Infront received over 80 per cent of the total votes for the “Agency of the Year” category for the TV Sports Awards which is supported by SPORTEL. The event celebrates and recognises excellence in the sports media industry, whilst raising valuable funds in supporting the “Play for Change” Foundation initiatives around the globe. Specifically, the ‘Agency of the Year’ category recognises the agencies who have had the biggest impact on the sports broadcast industry, including brokering new broadcasting partnerships and media rights negotiations as well as launching new services or overachieving for clients.
Philippe Blatter, President & CEO of Wanda Sports and Infront: “We are exceptionally honoured to receive this first ever TV Sports Award in the category ‘Agency of the Year’. Since we established Wanda Sports last year, we have received enormous support from the Wanda Group and from Chairman Wang especially. Together with our main shareholder, we share the aim to transform sport for the benefit of spectators, athletes and rights holders and this accolade reinforces our efforts to continue innovating and expanding the international sports landscape. These innovations have enhanced every area of sports marketing, including distribution of rights, host broadcast, digital media, programme production, event operations, brand development and sponsorship.”
About Wanda Sports
Wanda Sports Holding is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape – in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Wanda Sports Holding incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN, and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.
About Infront Sports & Media
Infront Sports & Media is the most respected sports marketing company in the world, managing a comprehensive portfolio of top properties. Led by President & CEO Philippe Blatter, Infront covers all aspects of successful sporting events – including distribution of media rights, sponsorship, media production, event operation and digital solutions – and has won a reputation for its high standards of delivery. As the number one player in winter sport and with a leading role in football, summer and endurance sports, Infront enjoys long-lasting partnerships with 170 rights-holders and hundreds of sponsors and media companies. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Infront has a team of more than 900 experienced staff working from over 35 offices across more than 15 countries, delivering 4,100 event days of top class sport around the world every year. In November 2015, Infront was integrated into Wanda Sports Holding, part of the Chinese conglomerate the Dalian Wanda Group.
