PRESS INFORMATION
7 JULY 2015
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTION ACCLAIMED AS ALMOST 300,000
WATCH HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA LIVE ON YOUTUBE
(London) Sunset+Vine, the multi-award winning UK independent TV sports production and media
company, and part of The Tinopolis Group, has revealed impressive viewing results from its first host
production of Henley Royal Regatta. The world’s pre-eminent river rowing event, now in its 177th
year, was streamed live on YouTube between the 1st-5th July 2015, and on the BBC Red Button on
Finals Day.
Employing new technology and new camera positions into its revolutionary production of rowing,
including the use of drone technology to provide as yet unseen coverage of the sport, Sunset+Vine’s
broadcast coverage delivered a truly unique view of rowing to its viewing audience. Over 294,000
people watched the Henley Royal Regatta live on YouTube with a further 100,000 watching specially
created on-demand daily highlights programmes and the individual races so far. 40% of the audience
came from outside of the UK.
Over 250 individual races were also clipped out and uploaded on YouTube for viewers to access OnDemand. Figures for Finals Day viewings on BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website are yet to be
disclosed. It was the first time the event had been broadcast anywhere since 1976.
The complete project, including the drone deployment, was masterminded by Henley Royal Regatta
Stewards Neil Chugani and Sir Matthew Pinsent. The production was executive produced by Andrew
Preece out of Sunset+Vine’s Oxford office.
Jeff Foulser, chairman of Sunset+Vine, commented:
“What these past five days clearly shows is that there are still iconic sporting events and
venues that would benefit from being introduced to a broadcast audience. The images
captured by the drone in particular were amazing. Henley as a sporting venue is right up
there with Lord’s, Wimbledon and Twickenham in terms of grandeur.”
Sir Steve Redgrave, Chairman of the Royal Regatta, said:
“The pioneering nature of the coverage of Henley Royal Regatta has provided a truly cuttingedge and innovative perspective of our event for viewers, as well as delivering a unique
insight to the sport of rowing for a new generation of fans. The feedback we have received
for Henley’s first broadcast anywhere since 1976 has been exceptionally positive and bodes
well not only for the future success of this prestigious event, but also for the televised future
of the sport.”
“It has also been a chance for us to shine a light on the passion that our competitors have for
Henley. Some of the best crews in the world come here to race, and for many of the clubs,
universities and schools it is the pinnacle of their year. This coverage rewards those efforts”
Sunset+Vine Digital was responsible for the channel management of the Henley Royal Regatta
YouTube channel and for optimising the regatta’s content. All racing was produced in High Definition
and screened live on the channel as well as on the Henley Royal Regatta website. A daily highlights
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show was made available to watch on demand within an hour of the close of each day’s racing
from July 1-5. In addition all races were edited and posted individually.
James Abraham, Director of Digital Strategy at Sunset+Vine Digital, commented;
“New technology can show you a sport like you have never seen it before. With the drone
and GoPro cameras onboard the boats, we were able cover the sport in a new way and tell
the stories better. Offering both Live and On-Demand viewing options has enabled us to
initially create a groundswell of interest with the live, but then to prolong the interest with
the On-Demand offer.”
“Digital audiences find content by search, share or recommendation so we have ensured
that content has been broken down into pieces to allow these mechanics to work so that all
Henley Royal Regatta action is easily discoverable by the user.”
Michael Cole, one of the most experienced television producers of rowing events in the UK,
including the 2012 Olympic Regatta, was Editorial Director.
The Henley Royal RegattaYouTube channel can be accessed:
https://www.youtube.com/user/HenleyRoyalRegatta/featured
ENDS
For further information on Sunset+Vine:
Greg Moore, Head of PR, Sunset+Vine M: +971 (0)55 885 4734 E: greg.moore@sunsetvine.com
About SUNSET+VINE
Sunset+Vine is a leading independent supplier of sports programming to broadcasters in the UK and
overseas. It has won over 40 broadcast awards including nine Royal Television Society awards and six
BAFTA’s most recently for “Best Sport and Live Event” in relation to its production of Channel 4’s
ground-breaking coverage of The London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Sunset+Vine was appointed as primary production partner for BT Sport (launched August 2013) and
now produces the channel’s live English Premier League Football and Aviva Premiership Rugby
matches and all support programming. The company was Host Broadcaster of the Glasgow 2014
Commonwealth Games and is currently host broadcaster for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015. In
the Middle East, Sunset+Vine has been Host Broadcaster for the Dubai World Cup for 17 consecutive
years. A leader in Advertiser Funded Programming, the company devised the world’s most watched
weekly sports’ show “Gillette World Sport” (shown in 180 countries at its peak) which has recently
been re-commissioned. Mobil 1 - The Grid is also amongst its extensive portfolio. The company is
part of The Tinopolis Group.
About THE TINOPOLIS GROUP
The Tinopolis Group comprises 17 companies dedicated to the creation and global distribution of
world-class content. It is one of the largest remaining independent television producers with
significant business bases in London, Wales, Glasgow and LA, producing high quality content for all
key networks in both the US and the UK and for a fast-growing stable of brands and agencies.
Tinopolis produces and distributes over 2,500 hours of award-winning broadcast and online
content, across seventeen companies.
Tinopolis comprises some of the most respected names in the industry across the US and UK,
including A. Smith and Co, Base Productions, Daybreak, fFatti fFilms, Firecracker Films, Magical Elves,
Mentorn Media, Passion Distribution, Pioneer Productions, Rain, Sunset + Vine and Tinopolis
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Wales/Cymru. The group recognises the importance of technology in today’s media landscape
and invests in solutions to bring added value to its content customers.
http://www.tinopolis.com/
For further information on Tinopolis:
Franklin Rae PR: Shereene Whitter/Safia van der Zwan/Sophie Naylor
Firstname@franklinrae.com T:+44(0) 203 011 1023
About HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA
Henley Royal Regatta is the pre-eminent, river-based international rowing regatta. It has an
unparalleled tradition and place in the hearts of top rowers around the world. Since 1884 the
Regatta has been organised by a self-electing body of Stewards, at present numbering 60, most of
whom are well-known and successful rowers and scullers. When Pierre de Coubertin created the
modern Olympics, he modelled the International Olympic Committee on the Henley Stewards.
Held annually since 1839, except during the two World Wars, Henley forms an essential part of the
British summer sporting scene. More than 300,000 spectators are attracted to the Regatta each
year, and competitors liken the experience to rowing “in a stadium” such is the proximity, number
and noise of the knowledgeable crowd that lines the banks.
Rowing greats and Olympic champions such as Sir Steve Redgrave, now Chairman of the Committee
of Management of the Regatta, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Katherine Grainger, Greg and Jonny Searle, Ben
Hunt-Davis, Mahe Drysdale, Eric Murray, Hamish Bond, Mirka Knapkova, and others can all count
Henley titles amongst their biggest achievements.
Leading rowing nations such as the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, France,
the Netherlands, the Ukraine, South Africa and Italy regularly send crews to contest a number of the
20 trophies alongside leading crews from Great Britain. Top American University crews from
Harvard, Washington, Princeton, Brown and others are regular visitors. China has recently sent a
number of crews to compete.
Henley is also unique in that school, college and university students have the opportunity to race
alongside the greatest names in their sport.
For further information on Henley Royal Regatta:
Caroline Searle, HRR Press Officer
M: + 44 1225 384211
E: press@hrr.co.uk
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