| Headquarters | Zug, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Key people | Andreas Jacobs Chairman |
| Website | infrontsports.com |
Infront Sports & Media is an international sports marketing agency based in Zug, Switzerland. The company handles the media and marketing for many large, international sports events and federations and also provides sports services - such as advertising, sponsorship and hospitality.[1] Through its subsidiary HBS it manages host broadcasting production and television coverage for a range of summer and winter sports worldwide. Infront has approximately 500 staff members in 24 offices around the world.
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Infront was created from the purchase of the former KirchSport AG by the late Robert-Louis Dreyfus on 31 October 2002. It was officially incorporated in 2003. The company originated from a merger of two existing Swiss-based marketing companies, CWL and Prisma Sports & Media. Infront is owned by a consortium of shareholders, including significant majority shareholder Jacobs Holding AG.[2]
Andreas Jacobs is the chairman of the board of directors,[3][4][5] Günter Netzer is a member of the board,[6] and Philippe Blatter leads the operative business as the president and CEO.[7]
Infront's origins are in the football business but in 2005 the company lost a majority of its business and subsequently diversified. Today the company is divided into Summer and Winter sports properties in line with the Olympic differentiation.
Infront works across a range of football activities, including the 2010/2014 FIFA World Cup where it distributes the Asian broadcast rights (in a joint venture with Dentsu) and manages the host broadcast production (done by HBS).[8]
The company works with the German Football Association and with many other European football associations and clubs. In Europe, clubs include: SV Werder Bremen, FC Schalke 04, A.C. Milan[9] and S.S. Lazio. It is also exclusive media rights advisor to Italy's Lega Calcio[10] for Serie A and B and the TIM Cup, and undertakes the host broadcast of the Ligue 1.
Its summer sports portfolio also includes partnerships with the European Handball Federation - handling the marketing and media rights for the 2010 EHF EURO[11] - and the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball. Infront is also the marketing partner of the 2010 FIVB Men's World Championship in Italy.
In China, Infront represents China's top sport, basketball,[12] at both League (CBA League) and national team (Team China Basketball) level.
For winter sport the company represents six of the seven Olympic winter sport federations at international level and its portfolio includes a long term partnership with the IIHF in world ice hockey for the annual Ice Hockey World Championships. In international skiing Infront manages media and/or marketing rights to the majority of the FIS World Cup events - including the Four Hills Tournament. Also through various partnerships it markets the rights for the IBU in biathlon for the IBU World Cup and the IBU World Championship, the FIBT for bobsleigh and skeleton, the FIL for luge, and the WCF for curling.
The company is also involved in motor sports through Infront Motor Sports, promoter of the Superbike World Championship and in horse racing through Baden Racing a joint venture company with Infront as majority shareholder,[13] managing the expansion and development of the international racecourse Iffezheim near Baden Baden, Germany.
Infront Sports and Media has recently come under controversy as FIFA has awarded the television broadcasting rights for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups to the company. This is controversial as it has surfaced that the President and CEO of Infront Sports and Media Phillippe Blatter is the nephew of FIFA president Sepp Blatter.[14]
Host Broadcast Services is a subsidiary of Infront working for major international sports events. Originally founded in 1999 it was created as the dedicated host broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup.[15]
Over the years HBS has become highly experienced working with international federations including FIFA for the 2010 FIFA World Cup[16] and UEFA for the UEFA Euro 2008, it has now become the industry leader in sports broadcasting innovation.