EPC and France Télévisions saddle up for host broadcast of World Equestrian Games 2014

Riders, drivers, and vaulters representing 74 nations are competing in the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy, the FEI’s flagship event which gets underway on Saturday (August 23). The number is an all-time high and represents a 25% increase compared to the nominated entries for any of the previous editions of the FEI World Equestrian Games.

Under agreement with the Normandie 2014 Organising Committee, EUROVISION’s wholly owned subsidiary Eurovision Production Coordination (EPC) and EBU member France Télévisions will deliver all host broadcast services. These will include provision of the international signal as well as creating news footage and highlights packages to serve the rights holders and the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI).

Under an unrelated agreement with the FEI, the European Broadcasting Union also holds the exclusive media rights for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 for the European territory. This is the first such operational collaboration between EPC and France Télévisions, although EPC has enjoyed similar working partnerships with other EBU Members.

Jumping has attracted the largest number of nations, with 54 countries entered for the competitions at Stade d’Ornano in Caen, closely followed by Endurance. Riders from 48 countries will compete in the Endurance event, which takes place against the spectacular backdrop of UNESCO World Heritage Site Mont Saint-Michel.

Australia, Austria, France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States will be represented in every discipline. In total 12 countries will be making their FEI World Equestrian Games debut – Hong Kong, US Virgin Islands, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Morocco, Mauritius, Peru, Palestine, Romania, Thailand, and Tunisia – demonstrating the increased globalisation of the FEI’s flagship event.