National Geographic Signs Volvo Ocean Race Deal
National Geographic and Volvo Car Corporation have signed a one-year contract valued at A$18.7 million to provide global, multi-platform coverage of the Volvo Ocean Race, Round The World 2001-2002.
The cross-media coverage will include international television broadcasts over the nine months of the race. Coverage extends to more than 110 million households in at least 129 countries, internet-based coverage and four special sections in National Geographic magazine – which has an Australian circulation of 180,000 per issue and readership of 800,000 per issue.
'We are delighted to be partnering with Volvo Car Corporation, as its concern for safety and the environment mirrors the National Geographic Society’s primary mission in the 21st century of conservation and stewardship of the planet,' said Steve Giannetti, Vice President and Publisher of National Geographic magazine. 'National Geographic is uniquely positioned to offer cross-platform opportunities world-wide under one brand — the renowned yellow border.'
Dieter Laxy, Senior Vice President of Volvo Car Corporation, said: 'We have chosen National Geographic to help us tell the high-tech, high-adventure story of eight crews pitting themselves against the elements in one of sailing’s ultimate challenges.'
Giannetti acknowledges the deal between the two organisations was made easier due to the shared core values in science, adventure and technology, with a strong commitment to the environment in each company.
The 32,700-nautical-mile Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, will leave Southampton, England, September 23, 2001, and will finish in Kiel, Germany, around June 9, 2002. The epic race is often referred to as the ‘sailor’s Mt.Everest’, renowned as the ultimate challenge for any sailor.
National Geographic Channel programs will highlight the race and draw attention to the science of the oceans and special features will focus on survival at sea and the culture and attractions of some of the port cities the yachts will visit, including Cape Town, Sydney, Auckland, Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Baltimore, La Rochelle, and Göteborg in Sweden. In Australia, the National Geographic Channel broadcasts can be viewed on the Foxtel, Austar and Optus Vision pay television networks.
Nationalgeographic.com, which attracts more than 4 million visitors a month, will have a dedicated Volvo Ocean Race website. Those who visit the site will experience the day-to-day excitement of the race through news stories, an interactive walk through of one of the boats taking part, information on the race route and ports, and information on major currents, trade winds and other geographic factors that affect the race.
There will also be links to other National Geographic and Volvo websites, through which Volvo is honouring its commitment to the environment with up to 15 million children world-wide expected to take part in local environmental projects with participants encouraged to devise solutions to environmental problems. Australian schools have been alerted about the site, which goes live in the next month or so.
The Volvo Ocean Race competitors will arrive in Sydney on December 4 2001, and depart again on December 26, as part of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sailing to the next stopover in Auckland via a pit-stop in Hobart. During the Volvo Ocean Race competitors three week stay, the bustling Stopover Village in Darling Harbour will be open to the public, with a wide variety of attractions. The whole stopover will be organised by the NSW Waterways Corporation.
For further information please contact:
Volvo Event Management UK Ltd
+44 1252 795 568
The cross-media coverage will include international television broadcasts over the nine months of the race. Coverage extends to more than 110 million households in at least 129 countries, internet-based coverage and four special sections in National Geographic magazine – which has an Australian circulation of 180,000 per issue and readership of 800,000 per issue.
'We are delighted to be partnering with Volvo Car Corporation, as its concern for safety and the environment mirrors the National Geographic Society’s primary mission in the 21st century of conservation and stewardship of the planet,' said Steve Giannetti, Vice President and Publisher of National Geographic magazine. 'National Geographic is uniquely positioned to offer cross-platform opportunities world-wide under one brand — the renowned yellow border.'
Dieter Laxy, Senior Vice President of Volvo Car Corporation, said: 'We have chosen National Geographic to help us tell the high-tech, high-adventure story of eight crews pitting themselves against the elements in one of sailing’s ultimate challenges.'
Giannetti acknowledges the deal between the two organisations was made easier due to the shared core values in science, adventure and technology, with a strong commitment to the environment in each company.
The 32,700-nautical-mile Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, will leave Southampton, England, September 23, 2001, and will finish in Kiel, Germany, around June 9, 2002. The epic race is often referred to as the ‘sailor’s Mt.Everest’, renowned as the ultimate challenge for any sailor.
National Geographic Channel programs will highlight the race and draw attention to the science of the oceans and special features will focus on survival at sea and the culture and attractions of some of the port cities the yachts will visit, including Cape Town, Sydney, Auckland, Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Baltimore, La Rochelle, and Göteborg in Sweden. In Australia, the National Geographic Channel broadcasts can be viewed on the Foxtel, Austar and Optus Vision pay television networks.
Nationalgeographic.com, which attracts more than 4 million visitors a month, will have a dedicated Volvo Ocean Race website. Those who visit the site will experience the day-to-day excitement of the race through news stories, an interactive walk through of one of the boats taking part, information on the race route and ports, and information on major currents, trade winds and other geographic factors that affect the race.
There will also be links to other National Geographic and Volvo websites, through which Volvo is honouring its commitment to the environment with up to 15 million children world-wide expected to take part in local environmental projects with participants encouraged to devise solutions to environmental problems. Australian schools have been alerted about the site, which goes live in the next month or so.
The Volvo Ocean Race competitors will arrive in Sydney on December 4 2001, and depart again on December 26, as part of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, sailing to the next stopover in Auckland via a pit-stop in Hobart. During the Volvo Ocean Race competitors three week stay, the bustling Stopover Village in Darling Harbour will be open to the public, with a wide variety of attractions. The whole stopover will be organised by the NSW Waterways Corporation.
For further information please contact:
Volvo Event Management UK Ltd
+44 1252 795 568