IMG Launches "Golfing World"

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IMG, the premier sports, entertainment and media company, today announced the launch of “Golfing World,” an exciting new golf television programming concept scheduled to air around the world from February 2010.
“Golfing World,” produced by IMG Sports Media Production, will be a comprehensive golf magazine show. It will last 90 minutes and appear five days a week (Monday – Friday), 48 weeks of the year.


Golfing World will bring a mix of:
—  Latest golf news
—  World Rankings
—  Interviews
—  Documentaries
—  Lifestyle Features
—  Tournament updates
—  Behind the Scenes footage from the professional Tours
—  Golf Instructional content
—  Golf travel, destination and resort reviews
—  Archive material featuring the golfing greats
   
The program will be distributed globally by IMG Sports Media, focusing on key international territories across North and South America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Australasia and will deliver a worldwide audience of millions.
Michel Masquelier, President IMG Media, said, “We have a clear understanding of the market and recognize the specific needs of broadcasters globally who regularly schedule live golf programming. IMG’s global position in golf across client management, event management, golf course development, sponsorship sales, relationships with governing bodies, licensing, vast media archive, production capabilities and market knowledge mean we have all the tools and access necessary to create high quality programming which no other organization can provide.

“With our unparalleled experience in the production of golf related programming, most notably through European Tour Productions, our joint venture with the European Tour, we are able to create a program that provides a highly effective and adaptable marketing platform for brands and organizations throughout the global golfing community.”

Guy Kinnings, Senior Vice President and Director of Golf, EMEA, added, “The announcement of ‘Golfing World’ demonstrates the very healthy state of golf around the world. It’s great news for everyone in the golf industry to know that, as well as providing a unique platform for their products, there is a global appetite for the in-depth, varied and extensive coverage that this new and ambitious concept will provide. This program will not only supplement the golf coverage already out there, but also be representative of the sport at all levels.”
About Golfing World

—  Golfing World is an international program, produced for an
    international market, and broadcast in approximately 35 countries around
    the world with a potential homes reach of around 250 million
   
—  The program will not be presenter led, it will be narrated — with
    scripts provided to all broadcasters to enable them to translate into local
    language
   
—  It is 90 minutes long in broadcast terms (72 mins of programming with
    advertising breaks)
   
—  The program will be produced five days a week (Monday to Friday), 48
    weeks of the year — totalling 360 hours of programming across the year
   
—  Golfing World launches on Monday 8th February 2010
   
—  The Golfing World website is currently in the planning stages with
    further announcements on this to come
   
About IMG GOLF
IMG’s Golf Division is the gateway into the business, lifestyle and traditions of golf with leadership in all facets of the game. We give our clients and customers unlimited access to the people, places, and organizations driving the sport. IMG Golf represent and strategically manage the careers of some of the best golfers in the world and have done for over 40 years. IMG owns or implements over 40 tournaments worldwide and provide partners with unique opportunities to engage with customers through their bespoke golf day programs. IMG offers expert golf course design and management services and consults to many governing bodies, federations, resorts and companies around the world. IMG Academies, featuring the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, offer world-class training facilities. IMG provides sales sponsorship services to its clients and customers. IMG is involved in every aspect of the game from TV, licensing and speakers to publishing, hospitality and brand/pr development. IMG Golf relies on its global knowledge and involvement in the game to guarantee its partners a unique service.

About IMG Sports Media Production
IMG Sports Media Production (formerly TWI) generates 6000 hours of programming, over 200 projects in locations around the world. These include: Premier League Productions, snooker, darts and The Football League Show for the BBC, programming for ESPN both in the studio and Outside Broadcasts, Total Rugby for the IRB, Transworld Sport, FIFA Futbol Mondial, FIFA World Cup Preview Series, West Indies Cricket, television and digital production for both Wimbledon and the R and A and Rolex programming in sailing and tennis. In addition there is also programming for SNTV (Sports News Television) and the European Golf Tour.
IMG Sports Media Production has also produced sports entertainment events including Superstars and the iconic strength athletics event ‘World’s Strongest Man’.

About IMG Sports Media
IMG Sports Media is the world’s largest independent distributor of sports programming, distributing over 18,000 hours of content to major global broadcasters annually. This content originates from more than 200 clients and events including Wimbledon, The Australian Open, The ATP Masters Series, The R&A, governing body and organiser of The Open Championship, International Rugby Board (IRB), Moto GP, National Football League (NFL) and International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). IMG Sports Media operates from over 30 offices worldwide and distributes across all forms of media including TV, Audio, Fixed Media, Inflight and Closed Circuit, Broadband and Mobile. IMG Sports Media also maintains the world’s largest sports archive with more than 250,000 hours of footage.

IMG Sports Media has two leading joint venture partnerships with Sports News Television (SNTV), the world’s largest sports news agency and European Tour Productions, a joint venture between IMG and the European Tour and the world’s most prolific producer and distributor of golf programming with an annual output of 700 hours.

(source: IMG)