TVNW Media Group has been appointed as host broadcaster for the 2003 World Weightlifting Championships, to be held in Vancouver, Canada, from 14-22 November.
It is the Group’s third major production deal involving an Olympic sport.
TVNW also produces international television programming for the International Triathlon Union’s World Cup series, and company managing director Martin Perry heads up the production of the Fédération Internationale de Ski’s World Cup skiing programming for UK broadcaster Channel 4.
TVNW beat other high profile companies, including Canadian national broadcaster CBC, to the World Weightlifting Championships contract.
Clint Flood, General Manager of the Championships, said, ‘TVNW will provide world-class coverage using local talent and equipment that will showcase not only the sport of weightlifting but also the city of Vancouver to
audiences in 50 countries. TVNW was a logical choice for us in terms of location, experience and price.’
For Perry, the event provides a ‘wonderful opportunity to showcase Vancouver-based television production expertise, with the 2010 Winter Olympics coming to the city in 2010.’
The World Weightlifting Championships are the final major Olympic qualifying event for Athens 2004, and will feature 650 athletes from 85 countries over nine days of competition. TVNW will produce live coverage from each of the main finals.
TVNW’s success in attracting high profile production contracts comes in part from its dual PAL / NTSC capacity, unique in North America, and its in-house post-production facilities, as well as low Canadian overheads and a
competitive dollar. The company also offers a UK-based production affiliate.
Based in North Vancouver, TVNW is the fastest growing sports production company in Canada. Since its inception in 2002, it has also produced coverage for the Canadian Arena Cross Championships, the 2002 Mountain Bike World Cup event in Scotland and the 2003 FIS Snowboard World Championships, as well as landing production contracts for the ITU Triathlon World Cup, Channel 4’s FIS World Cup skiiing and the World Weightlifting Championships.
Managing director Martin Perry has a long track record of co-ordinating host broadcast coverage of events, including international soccer, track and field, golf, basketball, cricket and winter sports. His live credits include World Cup soccer and rugby union and the 1992 Olympic Games in
Barcelona.
Perry has been involved in providing ITU Triathlon World Cup coverage since 1993. The 2003 World Cup programming is distributed by BBC Worldwide and is broadcast by networks including CBS (USA), Channel 5 (UK), CBC (Canada), NHK (Japan), Canal Plus in Europe, ESPN International (Americas), ESPN Star (Asia), Showtime Arabia, Supersport (Africa), NTV (Russia) and Outdoor Life.
TVNW is also the official television production company for the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer team, providing weekly coverage of Canada’s top men’s and women’s soccer teams.
Thanks to TVNW, the Whitecaps are the only teams in the men’s A-League and the women’s W-League to secure regular weekly television coverage in the 2003 season. TVNW will host broadcast the Whitecaps A-League playoff games in Vancouver’s Swanguard Stadium throughout September.
‘Soccer is the biggest participation sports among children and youth in North America,’ said Perry. ‘It’s great to be involved with one of the continent’s top soccer franchises as the sport seems set to realise its potential in the next two to three years.’
Perry has also produced a ground-breaking DVD package for the world’s leading video game producer, Electronic Arts. Additionally, TVNW produces corporate videos for major companies.
TVNW is presently developing plans for a digital broadcast licence within Canada for a city sports channel.
For further information, contact:
Martin Perry, Managing Director, TVNW Media Group
Tel: + 1 604 904 7579
Email: tvnw@shaw.ca / martin@tvnwmediagroup.com
Catherine Davies, Communications Manager
Email: tvnw@shaw.ca
2003 World Weightlifting Championships Official site:
http://www.2003wwc.com/home.asp
Marie McDonnell, Communications Manager, 2003 World Weightlifting Championships
Tel: + 1 604 990 9103
Email: marie@2003wwc.com
International Triathlon Union official site
http://www.triathlon.org,
Christine Brown, Producer, International Triathlon Union
Tel: + 1 604 306 2575
Email: christine@triathlon.org
The Vancouver Whitecaps and Whitecaps Women official site:
http://www.whitecapsfc.com
Bob Lenarduzzi, Director of Soccer Operations, Vancouver Whitecaps
Tel: + 1 604 669 9283
Email: blenarduzzi@prowavesoccer.com