Equestrian sport will take to a new international stage as global broadcaster CNN International plans to feature hugely increased coverage of equestrian sport over the next three years. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), world governing body for equestrian sports, welcomes this increased coverage under the new CNN Equestrian banner, as part of its extensive international promotion for the sport.
Jodie Kidd, the British-born television personality and international fashion model, has been signed up as host and presenter for CNN Equestrian alongside well-known CNN reporter Christina Macfarlane. Kidd, who will be reporting for CNN from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA) later this month and at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final in Barcelona (ESP) in October, is herself a talented rider and described her new role as “a dream job”.
CNN Equestrian, a 30-minute programme screened four times a year, will be broadcast on CNN International across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Bi-weekly equestrian coverage on CNN’s World Sport programme, will also be broadcast across CNN International EMEA, Asia Pacific, CNN en Espanol LATAM and CNN en Espanol Mexico.
CNN will also substantially increase coverage of equestrian sport on CNN’s digital platforms, with the sport featuring as a dedicated sub-section on CNN.com, CNN Arabic and CNN mobile platforms, as both video and feature-based written content.
“This commitment from CNN is a major development and will increase the fan base for our sport enormously by getting equestrian out to massive new audiences”, FEI President HRH Princess Haya said.
“FEI flagship events such as the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, the annual team finale at the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™ Jumping Final in Barcelona, and next year’s Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final in Las Vegas will now be beamed into the homes of millions of new fans, as well as giving our traditional followers additional viewing options for watching their favourite sport. This puts our global sport right where it deserves to be, up there with the big guns of Olympic summer sports. I couldn’t be more excited!”
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