IMG (business)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Trans World International
- 1.1 Programs
2 IMG College
3 See also
4 External links

IMG, originally known as the "International Management Group" is a leading global talent agency and production company. It was founded by Mark McCormack and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

McCormack was an American lawyer who spotted the potential for athletes to make large incomes from endorsement in the television age, and signed golfer Arnold Palmer as his first client. He died in 2003. Bob Kain and Alastair Johnston took over as co-CEOs.

TWI, IMG's television division, is the largest independent distributor and producer of televised sports, managing a library of more than 150,000 hours. TWI annually produces and distributes 6,500 hours of original programming to more than 200 countries covering 200+ sports, as well as being a global leader in digital sports and entertainment.

IMG is also commercially involved in an average of 11 major sports and cultural events around the world every day; represents the interests of major corporations; is the world's largest non-character licensing firm, and is a leading literary agency and book packager.

In addition, IMG Artists is a top global performing arts management firm; IMG owns and operates top sports and fitness academies, and IMG Models is the world's number one international model management firm. IMG Consulting works with many of the world's largest corporations on marketing and sponsorship programs, and its stadium and arena group works with leagues and franchises world wide.

In 2006, IMG Media acquired nunet AG, a provider of Mobile TV services to Mobile Network Operators globally. Clients of nunet's Mobile TV CMS currently include: Vodafone Global, Proximus, Vodacom, Mobilkom A1. Content distributed currently includes MTV, Fashion TV, Eurosport and Discovery Networks.

IMG is headquartered in Downtown Cleveland in a 1965 built complex diagonally across the street from Erieview Tower. When the IMG Center was built, it originally housed a now defunct Cuyahoga Saving Bank. In 1997, IMG renovated Cuyahoga Savings Bank Building and renamed it IMG Center. At street level they have projection screen showing their businesses with images of F1 racing to Tiger Woods.

[edit] Trans World International

Trans World International (TWI) is the event arm of IMG. It is the largest independent producer, packager and distributor of sports programs in the world. TWI produces over 5,000 hours of original programming each year for distribution to more than 200 territories.

[edit] Programs

American Gladiators (with Samuel Goldwyn Television and Four Point Entertainment)
Battle of the Network Stars
Trans World Sport
English Premier League (with the League and Sky Sports, the venture is officially known as Premier League Productions)
FIFA Futbol Mundial
Total Rugby (IRB Official Program)
ASP Tour

[edit] IMG College

In late 2007, IMG acquired Host Communications and the Collegiate Licensing Company to form IMG College. All together, IMG College holds the licensing rights to over 150 colleges and universities, 9 collegiate conferences, 15 bowl games and 7 other athletic institutions. Additionally, they hold the multi media marketing rights to the following schools and institutions:

IMG College also publishes Dave Campbell's Texas Football, a magazine dedicated to covering all levels of football in Texas and runs it's related event, the Toyota Tundra Texas Football Classic.