Volvo bring Sunset + Vine on board

by Lizzie Ward on 19 Jul 2007
Leading independent sports producer Sunset + Vine has been appointed as the production partner for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Sunset + Vine will produce 39 half-hour programmes and nine one-hour monthly programmes as part of the race’s broadcast output during the nine months of the event. They will also have responsibility for international broadcast distribution.

Under the direction of the Volvo Ocean Race Executive Editor Harold Anderson, Sunset + Vine contributed significantly to the 2005-06 race’s cumulative global television audience of 1.8 billion.

In welcoming them back on board for the 2008-09 event, Anderson said: 'Sunset + Vine brought innovation and quality to the coverage of the last Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-06.

'I feel confident that they will deliver an even better product this time. This is a very demanding project and based on their previous experience with the race, their innovative approach and their all-round expertise, I’m sure S + V will overcome the many challenges that arise this time round.'

With seven cameras on board each boat, linked by satellite to a purpose-built studio and editing facilities at race headquarters near Portsmouth in the UK, Sunset + Vine’s coverage will show key moments of the battle between the world’s elite sailors and the worst weather conditions imaginable.

An innovation for the 2008-09 will include a media crew member on board. 'Having a dedicated media person on board the boats will enable us to improve the quality of our output,' Anderson said.

'Sure they will be tasked with managing the on-board camera systems but what we are seeking is more than just pictures of the boats. We want to capture the tensions and the celebrations, every ounce of human drama as it happens. We will demand compelling content from the media crew members to help us tell the story of the race from every angle. Their role will be critical.'

Established in 1983, Sunset + Vine is a leading independent supplier of sports programming to broadcasters in the UK and a world leader in sports production and programming and distribution, producing over 2,000 hours of television every year.

John Leach, Managing Director of Sunset + Vine said: 'I am delighted that we will have an opportunity to further enhance the innovative approach we took for the Volvo Ocean Race in 2005-06.

'Sunset + Vine have already established a reputation for being a leader in new and creative production techniques. The challenge of the Volvo Ocean Race is to satisfy the sailing aficionados whilst, at the same time, making the programmes understandable for the uninitiated viewers.'

The 2008-09 event will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain in mid-October 2008, it will for the first time, take in ports in Asia. Spanning some 39,000 nautical miles, stopping at around 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s premier yacht race for professional racing crews.