WIGE MEDIA is appointed Host Broadcaster of The World Games 2005. The company from Cologne-Frechen (GER) produces the bulk of the television coverage on the 177 events in 38 sports and signs responsible for the worldwide distribution of all the programming from 2005 Duisburg.
Peter Geishecker, the CEO of WIGE MEDIA, expresses his satisfaction over the agreement reached with World Games 2005 Ltd.:”This year Germany is hosting the biggest World Games ever. That is why we see good prospects in all TV markets. Sports such as sumo or ju-jitsu are very popular in Asia; speed skating is attracting a great deal of attention in South American countries. We would like to support these and all the other sports in their quest to secure unprecedented and worldwide TV exposure.”
Gerd Bildau, CEO of World Games 2005 Ltd., regards the recent conclusion of the contract for the production and distribution of an international TV signal as the most important milestone on the road to successful World Games in Duisburg. Bildau confirms: “We have found a superbly qualified partner who is accepted everywhere as a provider of quality sports television. WIGE MEDIA has many contacts with broadcasters around the globe. That will make for The World Games 2005 to receive the television exposure they deserve. Furthermore, the ample TV coverage should facilitate the acquisition of additional sponsorships. WIGE MEDIA will support us in acquiring even more commercial sponsorships.”
WIGE MEDIA crews will be on location with a total of eight outside broadcast vans in Duisburg, Bottrop, Oberhausen and Mülheim. Additional ENG teams will roam the 27 venues in Duisburg and its partner cities. During the games, WIGE MEDIA will produce a package of 30-minute daily highlights on the 38 sports.
The highlights include the decisions in all 177 events and are available timely to broadcasters anywhere via satellite. Broadcasters can obtain much more extensive coverage either live or taped on most of the sports featured during 2005 Duisburg.
Besides WIGE MEDIA – which is to carry the load in terms of international TV – public broadcaster WEST GERMAN BROADCASTING (WDR) is committed to provide The World Games 2005 with excellent visibility in North Rhine-Westphalia and in Germany. In full compliance with its role as a public broadcaster, it assigns an overall budget of 700,000 Euros towards covering the event in ways it considers most appropriate to bring the 30+ sports, their features and the unique World Games atmospheres closer to its audiences. WDR should contribute heavily towards making The World Games 2005 successful by inducing the residents in the Rhine-Ruhr area, in North Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany and in the Benelux countries to take an interest in the event and to attend.
Most notably, WDR airs the World Games Opening Ceremony on July 14 live and schedules a daily live magazine (‘The Day In Duisburg’; 30 minutes) from temporary Duisburg studios between July 15 and 24. German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are in the process of firming up on their respective commitments to air daily highlights of The World Games 2005 during their coverage of the Tour de France. The world’s most important cycling event commands a combined total air time of 100 live hours on ARD and ZDF. The occasional glance at some other sports during the long broadcasts (up to six hours per day) can only help the ratings.
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