The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and Telenet, announced this week, they have signed a contract for a long-term strategic partnership covering the principal UCI cyclo-cross events.
The agreement will take effect from the 2015-2016 season and will run through to the end of the 2019-2020 season. It relates to the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup and the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.
Telenet will handle media coverage for five of the seven rounds of the 2015-2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, while VRT will retain the rights for the Flemish rounds in Koksijde and Heusden-Zolder). In addition, Telenet will become the main sponsor of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. From 2017 to 2020, VRT will continue to broadcast, on sub-licence and in partnership with Telenet, two rounds of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup organized in Belgium as well as the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championsihps.
From the 2016-2017 season through to 2019-2020, Telenet:
-will broadcast all rounds of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup on all of its channels and will provide a dedicated offer on its digital platforms (mobile applications and Internet), -will take care of international TV production and provide images (live, summaries, interviews, behind the scenes) to all right-holders, -will become the title sponsor of the Telenet UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. -Telenet will guarantee the quality of the TV production by using the most advanced technological means (onboard cameras, drones, trackers) so that cycling enthusiasts can get as close as possible to the riders as they watch the racing.
Commenting on this partnership, the UCI President Brian Cookson stated: “I am delighted by this partnership with Telenet, which will reinforce the development of cyclo-cross in Belgium and throughout the world. Our World Cup will visit the United States for the first time during the 2015-2016 season with the Cross Vegas event, and we mean to continue the globalization of this discipline. The year 2016 will also see the introduction of the new Women Under-23 category at the World Championships in Heusden-Zolder, proof of the UCI’s commitment to developing women’s cyclo-cross. The contract with Telenet is a new and significant step and will allow us to further invest in the discipline’s expansion.”
The CEO of Telenet John Porter added: “At Telenet we are as enthusiastic about cyclo-cross as the public: our commitment in a sponsoring role, with the Telenet-Fidea Cycling Team and now with the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, attests to the fact. We have the firm intention to continue investing in cyclo-cross and to contribute further to the development of the discipline. We will go full capacity with our TV production and television viewers can expect some amazing images.”
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