Press releases

Istanbul, 19 February 2008 – PLAZAMEDIA has taken another important step in the continuation of its internationalisation strategy this year: The leading full-service provider has signed an agreement with the Turkish Cycling Federation to produce the "44th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey 2008". Competitors in this, Turkey’s premier cycling race, will cycle the 1,000 or so kilometres from Istanbul to Antalya from 13th to 20th April in eight stages.

In close consultation with Turkish state television TRT, the General Directorate for Youth and Sport in the Republic of Turkey (GSGM) and the Turkish Cycling Federation, PLAZAMEDIA, as host broadcaster, is responsible for producing the world feed for all licensees worldwide. The contract also includes the production of features on the locations of the eight tour stages, which are to be integrated into the reporting to convey not just the action from the race but also the cultural and tourist attractions. PLAZAMEDIA will produce the entire world feed in high definition.

Florian Nowosad, CEO of PLAZAMEDIA, comments: "With the first major commission for a sports production in Turkey, PLAZAMEDIA is continuing its successful internationalisation strategy. The contract is the result of our systematic development of contacts with government offices, institutions and enterprises in Turkey since last year. We are delighted that they have entrusted us with the production of this most important major Turkish event. On this basis, we want to further expand our business dealings with our Turkish partners. At the same time, PLAZAMEDIA can again demonstrate its production know-how for international sporting events. This too is yielding numerous points of contact for our future work."

The production will require some 70 PLAZAMEDIA staff, numerous additional Turkish workers and 14 cameras. As well as 6 tracking cameras, four motorcycles with camera crew will accompany each stage of the race. Additional angles will be covered by two helicopter cameras, as well as a mini-camera mounted on one of the competing bikes to provide the cyclist’s view. All pictures from these perspectives will be beamed via wireless transmission to an aeroplane flying 7,000–8,000 metres above the main group of riders, from where these signals will then be transmitted to the OB unit near the finish.