Despite ÖSV criticism: FIS arranges megadeal

After months of negotiations, the deal should now be finalized. According to media reports, the ÖSV is not there.

One from the World Ski and Snowboard Association FIS more forced Marketingdeal can come into force after long negotiations. As the South German newspaper and the Blick reported, enough nations agreed to central marketing of international media rights by the company Infront – the ÖSV does not belong to itlike managing director Christian Scherer the APA confirmed. Austria’s ski association wants to continue marketing its international media rights itself.

Around the Central marketing There has recently been a heated argument between the FIS, which has long been vehemently demanding this under President Johan Eliasch, and some national associations. The world association is hoping for higher income, but some associations have ignored the plans. The German Ski Association (DSV) even obtained an interim injunction with a lawsuit before a Munich court. The Austrian Ski Association also sued – there is no verdict yet.

Until the very end, the FIS made concessions to the individual national associations in order to get them on board. After the DSV, Switzerland, the USA and Canada also agreed to the deal this week, according to which the Swiss-based agency Infront will market these rights to the World Cups in various sports from the 2026/27 season until 2034. The deal is not official yet.

Only Austria continues to reject central marketing. “We also had an offer from the FIS, but we politely declined after a short period of consideration. We would have had to break existing contracts, which is not in line with our culture of values,” Scherer told the APA. “Even if the FIS had indemnified us and held us harmless, we would have refused.” The ÖSV wants to continue its rights agreement with the IMG agency. “We have already extended certain international contracts and are now working on expanding and extending certain territories.”

Scherer said he doesn’t know whether anything will change for ski consumers in general from 2026/27. “The FIS has to say whether it wants to go on pay TV.” This point is an important one for the ÖSV. “We want to determine where our races are broadcast at home and abroad. For us it is a showcase for tourism and sport in general. We are not always interested in maximizing revenue, but rather an attractive overall offer.” When asked about possible economic disadvantages, the ÖSV managing director said: “Market developments will show it. It’s a very competitive environment.”

The Infront business should not be confused with the possible entry of an investor who recently caused a stir in the ski world. The financial company CVC approached the FIS with a proposal for a partnership and an investment of 400 million euros. In his own words, Eliasch had demanded more details from the company in this regard, but also emphasized that future cooperation was “not off the table”. An exchange of letters then developed between a number of athletes who accused the FIS management of going it alone and lacking transparency, and Eliasch. The FIS President claimed in interviews that many of the participants did not understand what it was about. Last Tuesday there was an attempt at a discussion at an online meeting. A FIS spokesman reported that the discussion was “pleasant and informative”.