FloTrack to serve as exclusive broadcast partner in select countries
AUSTIN, Texas — April 18, 2019 — Today, FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, announced an agreement with London Marathon Events to provide live and on-demand coverage of the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon on FloTrack.com exclusively in Canada, Australia, Pan Europe (excluding UK, Ireland, and Italy) and Pan Asia (excluding China and Japan). The deal was agreed to in collaboration with TCB Sport Media.
The Virgin Money London Marathon is one of six in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which consists of the most renowned marathons in the world. The London Marathon started in 1981, and today is regarded as one of the fastest marathons in the world. The London course is home to the women’s world record of 2:15:25, set in a “mixed gender” race in 2003 by Paula Radcliffe. In 2017, Mary Keitany set the “women’s only” world record at the London Marathon with a time of 2:17:01. This year’s race will feature both the women’s and men’s world record holders, Keitany and Eliud Kipchoge, respectively. Live coverage of the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon on FloTrack.com will begin at 08:00 GMT on April 28.
“We are very pleased to extend our partnership with FloSports – and specifically FloTrack – and welcome them as a rights-holder broadcaster across multiple territories,” Event Director of London Marathon Events Ltd. Hugh Brasher said. “With the 2019 field again set to feature the very best of the world’s distance runners, we look forward to working with FloSports to innovate and deliver the Virgin Money London Marathon to our fans around the world.”
“We are excited to partner with the Virgin Money London Marathon to broadcast one of the largest and most competitive marathons worldwide to fans across Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada,” FloSports Director of Global Rights Acquisition Ryan Fenton said. “London is known to be one of the fastest marathons in the world and the organizers have done a tremendous job putting together incredible elite fields in addition to the 41,000+ runners in the mass event. Fans will witness a thrilling competition as the top male and female athletes compete for over 300,000 Euros in prize money.”
The 2019 races will feature a very deep professional field with 10 men having run under 2 hours and 5 minutes in the full marathon and 6 women having run under 2 hours and 20 minutes. Kipchoge of Kenya, arguably the greatest marathoner in the history of the sport and the defending men’s London Marathon champion, became the first man in history to break 2 hours and 2 minutes over the marathon distance (2:01:39) when he broke the world record last September at the Berlin Marathon. The mark broke the previous world record by 1 minutes and 18 seconds, the largest progression of the men’s marathon record since 1967. Going head to head with Kipchoge will be Mo Farah, one of the most decorated British athletes in history, who has four Olympic gold medals and 6 World Championship gold medals to his name. Last year in London, Farah finished third overall (2:06:21). A few months later Farah went on to win the 2018 Chicago Marathon in a British and European record time of 2:05:11. The two will also be joined by two-time London Marathon Champion and former world record holder (2:03:23), Wilson Kipsang of Kenya.
On the women’s side, Keitany from Kenya, a 4-time winner of the London Marathon, will battle her countrywoman and defending London Marathon champion, Vivian Cheruiyot. Cheruiyot became the 7th fastest female marathoner in history when she won last year’s race in 2:18:31. The women’s race will also feature the 2018 Berlin Marathon champion Gladys Cherono of Kenya (6th fastest female marathoner all-time, 2:18:11) and 2018 Chicago Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei of Kenya (9th fastest female marathoner all-time, 2:18:35).
In addition to Farah, fans will also get to follow other top elite marathoners from Europe and the select broadcast territories including:
- Men: Henryk Szost (Poland, 2:07:39); Dewi Griffiths (Great Britain, 2:09:49); Michel Butter (Netherlands, 2:09:58), Callum Hawkins (Great Britain, 2:10:17); Bashir Abdi (Belgium, 2:10:46); Ihor Olefirenko (Ukraine, 2:12:04); Yassine Rachik (Italy, 2:12:09); Brett Robinson (Australia, debut); Jack Rayner (Australia, debut)
- Women: Sinead Diver (Australia, 2:25:19); Carla Salomé Rocha (Portugal, 2:25:27), Sonia Samuels (Great Britain, 2:28:04); Lilia Fisikovici (Moldova, 2:28:26); Charlotte Purdue (Great Britain, 2:29:23); Lily Partridge (Great Britain, 2:29:24); Ruth Van Der Meijden (Netherlands, 2:31:15)
To access live and on-demand coverage of the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon and other races, visit FloTrack.com to become a monthly or annual PRO subscriber. Either subscription unlocks access to premium content across the entire FloSports network. Watch the event across all screens by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Roku, or Apple TV 4.
Streaming more than 10,000 live competitions per year, FloSports continues to emerge as the global leader in live, in-depth, and on-demand digital coverage for passionate sports fans.
For more information, visit FloTrack.com.
About FloSports:
FloSports, the innovator in live digital sports and original content, partners with event rights holders, governing bodies, and other media companies to unlock a world of sports coverage that true fans have been waiting for. Through live streaming of premier events, original video programming, and weekly studio shows, FloSports is growing the sports, the events, the athletes, and the fans. Current verticals under the FloSports header include Track, Basketball, Swimming, Football, Wrestling, Rugby, Gymnastics, Hockey, and more.
About London Marathon Events:
London Marathon Events Ltd is one of the world’s leading mass participation sports event organisers. We organise some of the biggest and best mass participation sports events in the world including the Virgin Money London Marathon, the Prudential RideLondon festival of cycling and Swim Serpentine. We are a not-for-profit organisation and every year we pass our surplus to The London Marathon Charitable Trust to improve sports and recreation, primarily in the areas where we organise events.