EHF MARKETING ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO TV BROADCASTER LINE-UP

EHF Marketing GmbH has announced a number of changes to its broadcaster line-up with a new broadcaster in the Hungarian market and plans to show the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League knock-out phases in a number of new markets.

Commenting on the changes, Managing Director of EHF Marketing GmbH, Peter Vargo, said: “We are pleased to welcome three new television stations to our broadcaster line-up. We are confident that these new media partners will deliver the high standards and excitement the fans of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League and EHF Women’s Champions League have come to expect from Europe’s premier club competition.”

New broadcaster in Hungary – DIGI Sport

EHF Marketing GmbH has a new TV partner in Hungary for the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, EHF Women’s Champions League and European Cup. Following a change on the Hungarian market, matches from the competitions will be broadcast by DIGI Sport and DIGI Sport + (HD), Hungarian sport channels owned by rcs-rds, the biggest cable and satellite distributor in Romania and expanding rapidly in the Hungarian market.

DIGI Sport is a major broadcaster on the Hungarian market with top international rights including UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League Football, Serie A Football and the ATP Masters Series.

The channel will show all games involving Hungarian teams live. They will also show live games from the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, VELUX EHF FINAL4 and EHF Women’s Champions League finals and as well as the European Cup finals. DIGI Sport will show at least one more game from the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League from each round and one game from EHF Women’s Champions League even if there are no Hungarian teams remaining in the competitions. The channel will also take the “rewind – The Handball Show” magazine programme. Coverage will begin with the big game of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League Last 16 phase, FC Barcelona Borges against MKB Veszprém KC.

DIGI Sport’s Chief Operating Officer, Alexandru Oprea, said: “We are happy to announce that we have become the official  broadcaster partner of the most important handball competition in Europe, the EHF Champions League.  The newly purchased programme will be produced in the same high quality that our viewers are used to.  We hope that this cooperation will benefit both sides."

New markets for Europe’s premium club competition

The VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League will soon be aired in a host of new markets thanks to deals completed by EHF Marketing GmbH. The new agreements will see the action from the Last 16 of the 2010/2011 season seen in Mexico, Central America, Caribbean and Turkey following agreements with two television stations.

SportsTV Turkey shows sport 24/7 in the Turkish market via the D-Smart platform, which has more than 1.4 million subscribers. The channel already holds the rights to show top level Turkish basketball, motorsports and volleyball as well as international tennis. The channel will show a minimum of one live game from each round of the competition.

TDN Mexico - The Mexican pay television station, TDN (Televisa Deportes Network) Mexico, broadcasts a variety of sports 24/7 to Mexico, Guatemala, EL Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic. It covers both national and international sporting events including the Mexican Football League and Spanish football. The channel will show one game per round and “rewind – The Handball Show”, the competition’s weekly magazine programme. The new deal was completed in conjunction with the sports marketing agency, the sportsman media group.

About EHF Marketing GmbH

EHF Marketing GmbH is the marketing arm and daughter-company of the European Handball Federation. The agency works closely with marketing and media partners, as well as with Europe’s leading clubs to realise the full potential of the sport on the international sports market. EHF Marketing GmbH is responsible for the marketing and media rights of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League and EHF Women’s Champions League.

About the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League

The VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League is the premier international men’s club handball competition, offering 148 top-class and thrilling matches each season. The highlight of the season is the final phase of the competition, the VELUX EHF Men’s FINAL4, played in the LANXESS arena, Cologne on 28 and 29 May 2011. Title sponsor of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League is the VELUX Group, one of the strongest brands in the global building materials and home improvement industry.

About the EHF Women’s Champions League

The EHF Women’s Champion League is the top international club competition for women. Only the best teams in Europe gain a place in the Champions League. The 78 matches every season offer top-class handball at its best which are made available for TV viewers around the world by EHF Marketing GmbH.

Media Contacts

For more information, questions or for interview requests, please contact:

JJ Rowland
Head of Media and Communications
European Handball Federation
Tel: +43 1 80 151 167
Email: rowland@eurohandball.com  

Ulrich Gutweniger
Head of Media
EHF Marketing GmbH
Tel. +43 1 80 151 210
Email: gutweniger@ehfmarketing.com