EMG to produce Italian cycling

EMG has agreed a three-year deal to handle the production of nine cycling competitions organized by RCS Sport in Italy.

The deal includes the Giro d’Italia, Milano-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico, Giro di Sicilia, Strade Bianche, and Il Lombardia, and others. The races join the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders in EMG’s portfolio. It is the first time that RCS Sport has directly managed TV production for the Giro.

EMG Italy, EMG France, and EMG Belgium developed the production plan. The whole package of races organized by RCS Sport in Italy requires an average use of three OB trucks, 10 (audio and video) motorbikes, 10 cameras along the cycling track (including super slomo and RF) and two helicopters with gyro stabilized Cineflex cameras.

Live video coverage is guaranteed by two radio-link airplanes, regardless of weather conditions. EMG will operate with a crew of 120 professionals in the whole production chain - from cabling to aerial shooting and from live direction to highlights editing together with RCS Sports.

Shaun Gregory, CEO of the EMG Group, said: “We are truly honoured and proud to be the official production partner of RCS Sport. Our team will operate with proficiency and enthusiasm, relying on years of international expertise. EMG has always been a leader in technology development for live sport coverage in many disciplines; being a solid partner of sport federations and international broadcasters. Cycling, as one of the most complex sports to produce, is one of our best assets.”

Paolo Bellino, CEO of RCS Sport, added: “This is an epic turning point as we have decided to directly manage TV production for the first time in the history of the Giro d’Italia. We have a big international partner such as EMG Group and we have already tested the production and broadcasting during our spring races. It is the right time to take this important step, a natural consequence in the organisation of major sports events such as the Giro d’Italia. We will offer live images in full for every stage, so that cycling fans all over the world will be able to watch every single moment of the toughest race in the world’s most beautiful place.”

Claudio Cavallotti, CEO of EMG Italy, commented: “Being alongside RCS Sport in this is something special. I like thinking this is just the beginning. We will support RCS Sport in ever increasingly engaging and innovative host production, both in sport storytelling and in the promotion of our beautiful country Italy. We believe we will be a strong partner in the future of this beautiful sport and RCS Sport.”