CBI Announces Partnership With ESPN

CANOC Broadcasting Inc. (CBI) has announced a strategic partnership with ESPN, the world’s premier sports broadcasting platform, to bring high quality video and broadcasting content from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games to Caribbean countries 

Last November, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded CBI the broadcast rights in 20 countries in the Caribbean, from Bermuda in the North, down to Suriname in the South, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 

“CBI begins its road to Rio 2016 today and will support this effort over the next 26 months with several unique projects, one of which will be monthly television programs on ESPN and media houses across the Caribbean that focus on our Athletes’ journeys as they prepare to become Olympic Athletes and Olympic medalists at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,” Michael Romany, CBI’s CEO said at a press conference in Jamaica on Wednesday (April 30) to announce the partnership. To ensure proper financial management with a high degree of transparency and accountability and strong sponsorship and media support, CBI also announced its affiliation with Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) and branding company, Inglefield & Ogilvy. 

Romany said the ESPN brand and track record delivers quality and reliability of broadcast and a ready infrastructure for delivery to television subscribers. 

The CBI/ESPN model, he said, relies on four simple pillars: quality video production programming and broadcast images; an established and reliable distribution platform for delivering 12 hours of Olympic television every day during the Games; the world’s number one athletes across several disciplines of Olympic sport and an aggressive sponsorship & marketing program to maximize revenues, which includes targeting IOC TOP Sponsors, as well as, the multinational regional corporate sector. 

CANOC’s President, Steve Stoute said through the CBI’s initiatives, the success of Caribbean athletes will provide commercial advantage for the talent pool and will also guarantee succession in professional sports. 

“For too long, too many have capitalized on our skills, our talent, and our capabilities, resulting in missed opportunities for us. On this occasion however, we are leveraging those strengths to the advantage of our athletes and Caribbean peoples everywhere,” he said adding that the spirit of Olympism demands a selfless concern for the welfare of all. 

“So it is not just Jamaica or Trinidad or Grenada that carries the winning flag. The winning flag symbolizes one Caribbean, one people, sharing the dream of achieving the highest sporting recognition for athletic excellence at the Olympic Games. This is why it is of critical importance at this juncture to pursue diligently sustainable income streams to invest in the continuous development of all Caribbean athletes, without exception,” added Stoute. 

Brian Hackett, Managing Director Price Waterhouse Coopers Advisory Services Ltd said its teams will work with the CBI to ensure there is always transparency and accuracy and that the objective of accessed broadcasting for all will be efficiently met. Also attending the press conference were Ms. Natalie Neita-Headley, Minister of Sport, Jamaica; Mr. Scott McGlone, Director of Programming at ESPN and Mr. Michael Fennell, President of the Jamaica Olympic Association.