Host Broadcast Services (HBS), the wholly owned subsidiary of Infront Sports & Media has just won the prestigious ISEMS Award for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ host broadcast operation, one of the 9 Award categories which recognise excellence in areas of sports event management.

This award was presented at a Gala dinner at Wembley Stadium, the Sportbusiness ISEMS Awards being one of the highlights of the International Sports Event Management and Security 07 Conference, held in London this week.

As we heard at Francis Tellier’s conference this afternoon, in the digital world, expectations are rapidly changing as enhanced feeds (namely the multi-feed concept pioneered by HBS for the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ in Korea / Japan) and additional services (the Media Server, the Clip Compilation Channel, dedicated Dolby Surround Sound, CD quality audio on commentary circuits to name but a few of the innovations implemented by HBS in Germany) are being delivered to broadcasters who are trying to cut costs but need to produce more and more specific and sophisticated packages for their diversified home audiences. Diversity being a reality that HBS has learned to master over the years with each broadcast customer expecting top-notch service for its own very specific needs.

In 2006, the custom-tailored production services provided by HBS transformed the coverage of the event for all, in terms of quality and content.

These innovative services drove sales – in the digital media universe, on the internet and on mobile phones. The 2006 FIFA World Cup™ was the most widely covered sports event in the world ever. In 2006, more than 300 broadcast partners were serviced by HBS and more than 100 countries were covered by 50 licensees in the mobile telephony and world-wide-web sectors alone.

Six Dream teams, recruited and trained by HBS from the three major European Football producing TV channels, supplied outstanding pictures of the matches to broadcasters, shot for the first time in full HD.

A team of 40 experienced producers and journalists created a special “new media” package – tailor-made for licensees, designed for exploitation without the need for extensive editing, incorporating various innovations designed specifically for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ by HBS and enhanced with customised match and competition summaries, graphics, background sound, music and commentary.

The fact that this was the first FIFA World Cup™ to be covered entirely in HDTV opened the door for HD video based “Pan & Scan” technology to be utilized, allowing the editor to zoom in and capture the core action, producing a clear picture more exciting than ever before for tiny handsets with a voice-over commentary in the language of one’s choice.

The benefits for all were considerable – best quality production and services, reduction, for new media of cost per licensee through central multilateral production and HD-based content, delivering “never seen before” picture quality in numerous different formats.

Francis Tellier, CEO of HBS, said in his acceptance speech: “This special Award acknowledges the quality of the cost effective services and innovations that our teams have provided year in, year out, in the field of a host broadcast operation, whatever the sport, wherever the event, however tough the challenge. HBS delivers true value for money, on budget, on time, on the button.

The coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ has indeed been the defining step forward and underlines our ambition to lead the industry through excellence and innovation. HBS’ work is all about continuity – continuity of experience with the 300 broadcasters whom we have serviced over the years, ensuring a complete integration of delivery - and progress – innovations that address their specific needs and expectations in the most user-friendly and cost effective manner .”

Philippe Blatter, President and CEO of Infront Sports & Media added: “We are proud that the outstanding production capabilities of HBS have been recognised and we see this Award as an encouragement and as a challenge to push the envelope even further in future. The expansion of Infront Production and the creation of the Broadcast Academy will further reinforce the position of the Infront Group as a global player in the industry”.