WST Extends Deal With IMG ARENA
IMG ARENA POTS ENLARGED LONG-TERM DEAL WITH WORLD SNOOKER TOUR
IMG ARENA, a leading sports betting service and content hub, has agreed a long-term deal with the World Snooker Tour (WST) extending the Live Streaming rights for the betting industry.
The partnership grows the existing live streaming agreement, covering a greater number of matches and tournaments on the WST tour.
Snooker has grown rapidly in recent years to become a truly global sport with vast levels of popularity and engagement among fans worldwide. Despite current challenges, the Word Snooker Tour has successfully maintained its momentum, with 20 events staged in 2020. Tournaments have up to 128 players, with the action closely followed by a loyal audience.
WST Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are delighted to extend our agreement with IMG ARENA. This is a perfect match between two businesses with a shared vision for the future for our sport and enthusiasm for creating new opportunities. We have worked with IMG for many years on various aspects of our sport and we admire their professionalism and intelligence. Snooker continues to develop as an outstanding property and we have long terms ambitions for further international expansion.”
The World Snooker Tour has grown into a global circuit over the past decade, with 500 million television viewers
Freddie Longe, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of IMG ARENA said: “This significant extension and expansion of our relationship with the World Snooker Tour demonstrates the commercial confidence on both sides and establishes a renewed platform for even greater success.
“With its global footprint and loyal fanbase, snooker is an essential part of the sports and sports betting eco-systems. We are delighted to increase the volume and quality of the content we offer to our sportsbook customers, which this deal makes possible.”
Headquartered in London, IMG ARENA works with more than 460 leading sportsbook operators worldwide, providing always-on services including 24/7 live streaming and on-demand virtual sports products designed to evolve and inspire engagement by placing fans at the heart of the action. In 2019, more than 175 million hours of IMG ARENA content was watched by 56 million unique viewers around the globe. IMG ARENA’s clients include the ATP, UFC, the PGA TOUR, European Tour, the FA Cup and Serie A.
About IMG
IMG is a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media. The company manages some of the world’s greatest athletes and fashion icons; owns and operates hundreds of live events annually; and is a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media. IMG also specializes in licensing, sports training and league development. IMG is a subsidiary of Endeavor, a global entertainment, sports and content company.