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IMG Media and Panasonic Launch Live 24-Hour In-Flight Sports Channel
LONDON, Feb 13, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) --
IMG Media, part of IMG Worldwide, the global sports, fashion and
media company, has teamed up with electronics giant Panasonic
Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world leader in
state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC)
systems, to launch the first-ever live global premium 24-hour sports
channel -- SPORT 24 -- for airline passengers from this week.
The ground-breaking service, which is available through Panasonic's
eXTV service, is being broadcast via satellite to specially-equipped
Gulf Air planes and feature live coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympic
Games, The Barclays Premier League, and Bundesliga, The Masters, The
Open Championship and the Ryder Cup, Formula 1, Roland Garros and the
Australian Open.
The channel will also be available to cruise liners from March 1 with
Norwegian Cruise Liners (NCL) being the first operator to broadcast
SPORT 24 on selected vessels.
There are ongoing discussions with a number of other airlines
interested in taking the service and Gulf Air, Bahrain's national
airline, is initially offering Sport 24 on its 'Sky Hub' which is
currently available on A330 aircraft that fly long-haul and on some
intra-Gulf routes including its destinations to Europe, Kuala Lumpur,
Bangkok, Jeddah, Manila, Lahore, Islamabad.
Panasonic's eXTV television network uses the company's eXConnect
in-flight Ku-band communications service, including the same Ku
antenna and onboard components, to deliver high-quality, television
programming to passengers during their flight. It provides live,
uninterrupted content to aircraft flying all over the world, even
over oceans.
IMG Media, who already produce a 24-hour Premier League content
service for the League's overseas broadcasters, has acquired the
rights to the various sporting events and programming and will be
producing the content within its London production facility.
Richard Wise, Senior Vice President, IMG Media, said: "Sport 24 will
revolutionise the way passengers watch live sports on Airlines and
Cruise Ships. For the first time ever viewers will be able to enjoy
the greatest sporting events live while travelling on business or
holidaying abroad. Sport fans will no longer have to miss their
favourite team, or event on this new dedicated sports channel."
David Bruner, Vice President, Global Communication Services with
Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said, "The launch of the Sport 24
channel is a momentous occasion not only for Panasonic's eXTV service
but for all of the in-flight market. The Sport 24 channel represents
a major advancement in the in-flight experience for passengers all
over the world. We are excited to be working with IMG and to have
Gulf Air as our launch customer. After all, there's nothing quite
like watching the world's top sporting events like the Olympics,
live, on an aircraft, anywhere in the world."
Gulf Air Senior Manager of In-Flight Entertainment & Communications,
Mr. Mohamad El Assaad, said: "Following the successful launch of our
'Sky Hub' we are now bringing our customers, more live channels and
more programs; the Sport 24 channel, with an exceptional array of
live action is the latest in our offerings. Now our customers onboard
can watch their favorite sports stars live at 35000 feet with all
exhilaration and enthusiasm."
About IMG Media
IMG Media is the world's largest independent distributor of sports
programming, distributing over 20,000 hours of content to major
global broadcasters annually. This content originates from more than
200 clients and events including AELTC (Wimbledon), Tennis Australia
(The Australian Open), TPL (ATP Masters 1000s), The R&A (The Open
Championship), International Rugby Board (Rugby World Cup), Dorna
(Moto GP), National Football League (NFL) and International
Volleyball Federation (FIVB). IMG Media operates from over 30 offices
worldwide and has daily exchanges with over 4,000 key media contacts.
IMG Media distributes across all forms of media including TV, Audio,
Fixed Media, Inflight and Closed Circuit, Broadband and Mobile. IMG
Media also maintains the world's largest sports archive with more
than 250,000 hours of footage.
About Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Panasonic Avionics Corporation
is the world's leading supplier of in-flight entertainment and
communication systems. The company's best-in-class solutions,
supported by professional maintenance services, fully integrate with
the cabin enabling airlines to deliver the ultimate travel
experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting
in improved quality communication systems and solutions, and lower
overall costs. Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a
U.S. corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North
America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic
Corporation. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 3,100
employees and operations in 80 locations worldwide, it serves over
200 customers worldwide and provides IFEC systems on over 3,700
aircraft. For additional information, please visit
www.panasonic.aero.
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is the proud national
carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. As a pioneering airline in the
Middle East region with over sixty years of experience and expertise
in flying people across continents, Gulf Air is today one of the most
powerful brands and a name to reckon with in the global aviation
industry.
One of the prime objectives of Gulf Air is to connect Bahrain to the
Middle East countries and the rest of the world. As such the airline
currently operates the largest network in the Middle East with
non-stop flights while providing seamless onward connections to other
international destinations. The airline's current network stretches
from Europe to Asia, connecting 54 cities in 34 countries, with a
fleet of 36 aircraft.
In tune with the Kingdom's economic blue print, 'Vision 2030,' Gulf
Air's strategy is to build an efficient, commercially sustainable and
dynamic airline that effectively serves the people and the economy of
Bahrain and represents the Kingdom on the world stage. Reflecting the
needs and aspirations of its customers, the strategy focuses on three
core areas: a targeted, more focused international network, a
superior, more consistent product and a modern, more efficient fleet
that will optimize value. Gulf Air's goal reflects a commitment to
the latest aviation technology complemented by the hallmark Arabian
hospitality for which the airline is well known. Gulf Air is the
official sponsor of the 2012 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1884268
Media contacts:
IMG
Gary Double
Vice President Corporate Communications - Europe
Tel: + 44 208 233 7425
+44 7768 825114
Email Contact
Panasonic
Brian Bardwell
Tel: +1 949.462.1742
Email Contact
Gulf Air
Katherine Kaczynska
Senior Manager Corporate Communications
Gulf Air Tel: +973 17338416
+973 36500292
Email Contact
SOURCE: IMG
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=63C46CF3FE4CFDF9
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=46FA8D362B2BE0DE
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=A47925FA25056F30
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