Sunset+Vine cements Scottish ambitions with BBC Scotland production win

Sunset+Vine, the UK independent TV sports production and media company, has been awarded a significant contract by BBC Scotland, which could see the company produce a proportion of its live and highlights sports programming for the next five years.

The contract, which initially runs for a one year period from June 2015 to May 2016, covers BBC coverage of Scottish Cup Highlights; Macaulay and Camanachd Cup Shinty Finals, Shinty/Hurling International Live, Melrose Rugby Sevens, Scottish International Bowls and the Scottish Curling Championships. During this time Sunset+Vine will produce some 50 hours of television sports coverage, across at least 26 live broadcasts or highlights programmes.

The win, secured following a competitive tender process, comes on the back of a hugely successful 12 months for Sunset+Vine’s Scottish business operations, which witnessed the highly acclaimed host broadcast production of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games (where Sunset+Vine was responsible for providing High Definition television coverage over the 11-day competition, originating from 19 venues encompassing 26 different sporting disciplines) as well as a continuation of BT Sport’s contract to cover some 40 SPFL games.

Jeff Foulser, chairman of Sunset+Vine, commented: “After the Commonwealth Games it was important for Sunset+Vine to maintain momentum in Scotland and this important contract win does just that. We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with BBC Scotland and to emerge successful from this competitive tender demonstrates their confidence in our abilities to deliver high quality TV sports production, as well as a shared confidence that we’re committed to Scotland.

“Part of our Glasgow 2014 Host Broadcaster Training Initiative (HBTI) commitment was to continue to create broadcast industry opportunities to students across our contracts. I’m delighted that with this deal we will be in a position to help students get involved with our sports coverage and continue to build a talent base that will benefit the TV community in Scotland for years to come.”

David Harron, executive producer, commissioning & editor, TV Sport at BBC Scotland said: “I am delighted that we will be continuing our successful partnership with Sunset+Vine. They have always brought great creativity and production values to the programmes they deliver for us, to the benefit of sports audiences in Scotland.”