The European Broadcasting Union announced today that it has signed major international sponsorship agreements with Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications S.A. and Amstel for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Meanwhile, the visual identity of the contest has been presented as well.
Cosmote, leading mobile telecommunications operator in south eastern Europe, will be the International Presenting Sponsor and Technology Partner in Greece as well as for the other countries in which it operates.
Amstel, a leading brand in the international beer industry and second-largest brand of the Heineken group, has been appointed International Presenting Partner in a number of southern and eastern European countries taking part in the Eurovision Song Contest. Heineken is originally a Dutch company.
Both companies have been granted extensive event association, new media and media rights for the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, which includes the semifinal on 18th May and the final on 20th May.
The agreements, which are part of an international commercial and marketing platform developed by the EBU for the Eurovision Song Contest, were negotiated by T.E.A.M. (Television Event and Media Marketing AG) based in Lucerne, Switzerland. T.E.A.M. is the worldwide exclusive marketing agency
for the commercial rights of the Eurovision Song Contest since 2004.
“International partnerships, such as the ones we now have with Cosmote and Amstel, are crucial to staging the Eurovision Song Contest, as they provide their support for this major event”, said Eurovision Song Contest supervisor Svante Stockselius.
Commercial General Director Costas Liamides of Cosmote described the Eurovision Song Contest as “one of the greatest international celebrations of music, uniting people through culture. This is a perfect match with Cosmote's mission, which is to bring people closer through technological innovation
and promote communication beyond geographical borders”.
George Kyriakos, Amstel marketing manager in Greece, explained that Amstel is proud to be associated with the Eurovision Song Contest, one of the most significant international entertainment projects taking place in Greece for the first time ever. “After last year's outstanding television success and
victory of the Greek song, My number one, Amstel, the top-selling beer in Greece, will offer all of its expertise to support the local organisers in making the brightest and most memorable mark in the 51-year history of the Eurovision Song Contest”, he said.
At this moment, a press conference takes place in Athens to present the sponsors and the visual identity of next year's Eurovision Song Contest.
