Nielsen Business Media Announces Partnership with ISPO China

Nielsen Business Media, parent company of the Action Sports Retailer (ASR), Health+Fitness Business (HFB) and Outdoor Retailer (OR) trade shows, today announced that it has signed an exclusive multi-year partnership agreement with Messe Munich International (MMI), owners and organizers of the ISPO China trade show, beginning with the ISPO China trade show scheduled to take place February 24-26, 2008 at the China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nielsen will be responsible for all North American sales and marketing efforts for MMI’s 2008 ISPO China trade fare. ISPO China 2008 is the fourth edition of the event and has become the leading international trade show for sports, fashion and lifestyle brands in Asia.

Nielsen staff will help North American companies associated with its ASR, HFB and OR branded trade shows enter the Asia-Pacific markets, particularly in the rapidly growing Chinese sports market.

“We are excited to help our customers access the world’s largest consumer market for sporting goods and apparel in partnership with MMI and its ISPO China trade show,” said Joe Flynn, vice president and general manager of Nielsen’s Sports Group. ”The Asia-Pacific market is growing at a phenomenal rate and ISPO China has established itself as the pre-eminent trade show in the sports and outdoor recreation market. We are confident in ISPO China’s strategy, management team and the organization of the show and believe this partnership between two of the world’s largest sports trade show producers will be a winning combination for our customers and association partners.”

“For over 25 years Nielsen’s trade shows such as OR, ASR and HFB have earned the respect and trust of the North American markets in which they serve,” said Dieter Tremp, ISPO Group’s senior associate in North America. “Working together on behalf of the industry, Nielsen and ISPO China are now able to give American companies the best possible support and guidance into the Chinese sports market.”

In 2007 ISPO China had 300-plus exhibiting brands from 20 countries and attracted more than 12,000 visitors and 583 members of the media. In addition, plans are in place to launch an ISPO China Summer event in Shanghai some time in 2008 or 2009.

Nielsen Business Media is one of the largest trade show producers in North America with 135 shows produced annually. Besides the successful ASR, HFB and OR shows under its Sports Group division, Nielsen also produces the Interbike International Bicycle Expo and the FlyFishing Retailer trade shows. For more information about Nielsen business media, please visit www.nielsensportsgroup.com.