Narrowstep, Octagon CSI land ISAF Sailing World Championships

Sportshows Television, the TV production arm of Narrowstep, and Octagon CSI, owned by The Interpublic Group, have won the contract to provide the television production and distribution for the 2007 International Sailing Federation’s ISAF Sailing World Championships which will take place in Cascais, Portugal. The two companies outbid more than nine leading production and distribution companies from around the world and will host and televise the event from June 28 through July 13, 2007. Narrowstep’s client, Sail.tv, will be the broadband TV platform for the competition.

“Managing the television production and distribution is a significant step for ISAF and part of our long term strategy,” said Luissa Smith, Director of Communications for the International Sailing Federation. “The ISAF is very excited to be partnering with two such renowned companies on our most significant event. We were impressed with all the companies we met, but this partnership was most able to demonstrate a distribution strategy that was hard to beat, together with their great understanding of sailing.”

Sportshows Television producer Sam Usher said, “The event attracts the very best competitors in the world and will make for exciting and eye-catching television against the picturesque backdrop of Cascais. We are looking forward to the challenge of becoming host broadcaster for this prestigious event.”

“Outside of the Olympics this is the pinnacle of the sailing calendar and we are delighted to have won the production and distribution deal with our partner Sportshows Television,” said Paula Rigby, Octagon CSI’s Head of International Production Development. “This is a very exciting venture to be working on.”

“Broadband TV channels are the future, and our sailing community around the world will welcome the opportunity of seeing the action live each day, as no other broadcast platform can offer so many hours devoted to the event in its scheduling. This is precisely why we launched the channel, and this deal underlines the unique global proposition we have established for the sport,” said Sail.tv Managing Director Andy Steward.

The 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships comprises all 11 Olympic sailing events, including men’s, women’s and open events. Each event is a World Championship in its own right, with all 11 contested under the umbrella of the 2007 ISAF Sailing World Championships. The event will provide the first of two opportunities for sailors to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games and in keeping with the stature of this event 75 percent of such qualification will be achieved in Cascais.