HELSINKI/ZUG – Infront Sports & Media, exclusive media and marketing partner to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), has realised an official dedicated YouTube channel that will feature all 64 games of the upcoming 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship running from 4 to 20 May in Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden.

The dedicated channel at www.youtube.com/icehockey presented by main sponsor Škoda will provide fans throughout the world with high-quality video stream both live and on demand of each game as well as daily highlights, such as best action, goals and saves. The service is free of charge.

Infront handles all forms of electronic media rights for the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship including TV and digital media on a worldwide basis. The collaboration with YouTube guarantees full tournament coverage to ice hockey fans far and wide — no matter where they are in the world on any platform and anytime. Access is only geo-blocked in a few countries where exclusive media license agreements are in place*.

Extensive broadcasting – keeps a pace with fan demand

Horst Lichtner, IIHF General Secretary, said: “Through the YouTube coverage, realised by Infront, we have managed to realise the best global digital media exposure for the championship possible and provide the fans with exceptional levels of access to this year’s ice hockey action. This together with the extensive television broadcast coverage secured will guarantee that the energy and enthusiasm of the event this year is transmitted across the globe through both traditional and new media platforms.”

Media coverage of the IIHF World Championship has continuously increased since 1998 and through traditional media is aired in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide to reach a predicted cumulative audience of 650 million in 2012. The additional exposure worldwide from the YouTube services is expected to further increase the audience figures significantly.

Bruno Marty, Infront’s Executive Director Winter Sports, said: “The continuous efforts of the IIHF and Infront to enhance the visibility and availability of the tournament are a critical factor to the success of the platform. Through the YouTube service, the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship is now fully embracing the changing media landscape with its increasing demand for digital media content and the impact this holds today on the fan experience. The fact that the channel is presented by main sponsor Škoda, provides a further example of the all-round marketing benefits and the strong activation potential for commercial partners.”

Infront’s overall role

Infront is the exclusive marketing partner of the IIHF for all commercial rights to the IIHF World Championship and the annual Division I tournaments (groups A and B). In addition, it undertakes various services for the IIHF World Championship – including host broadcast production, design and merchandise services, customer support and on-site VIP hospitality.

*Geo-blocked countries include: Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine and the USA.