SEATTLE, Wash., Jan. 15, 2007 – Getty Images, Inc., and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) today jointly announced Getty Images will be the exclusive worldwide commercial imagery licensing partner of the LPGA. The agreement is the first time the LPGA has awarded exclusive photographic access to golf’s greatest female athletes. Getty Images will also be able to significantly expand and diversify its current LPGA collection of more than 15,000 images.
This partnership allows Getty Images and the LPGA to offer the most comprehensive photographic coverage of the LPGA to date. Getty Images will manage the commercial licensing and sales of images from LPGA events via gettyimages.com, which will allow both entities to service marketing partners and other third-party outlets from around the globe.
Also, as part of this agreement, Getty Images will develop an LPGA-branded Web site to provide fans the opportunity to go online to purchase prints of their favorite players.
"In recent years, we’ve seen a sharp increase in the demand for sports imagery, among both our advertising and editorial customers," said Carmin Romanelli, vice president of sales at Getty Images. "Through our partnership with the LPGA, we’re able to complement our offering with a collection of powerful, high-quality images that document the evolution of a classic female sport which is rapidly growing globally with the ongoing influx of talented athletes from around the world."
Getty Images will also conduct numerous feature photo shoots and portrait sessions with LPGA players, as well as provide complete tournament coverage at every official LPGA event, including all majors and The Solheim Cup.
"A streamlined licensing structure, world-wide resources and a high caliber of photographic talent were our top priorities in selecting an image partner," said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. "Getty Images brought these capabilities to the table, along with the largest customer base in the industry."
Getty Images’ LPGA tournament coverage kicks off with the Women’s World Cup of Golf on Jan. 19-21 in South Africa. The company’s complete LPGA collection can be viewed at www.gettyimages.com/sport.
About Getty Images
Getty Images is the world’s leading creator and distributor of visual content and the first place creative professionals turn to discover, purchase and manage imagery. The company’s award-winning photographers and imagery help customers create inspiring work which appears every day in the world’s most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, books and Web sites.
Headquartered in Seattle, WA and serving customers in more than 100 countries, Getty Images believes in the power of imagery to drive positive change, educate, inform, and entertain. Visit Getty Images at www.gettyimages.com.
About the Ladies Professional Golf Association
Featuring the world’s best women golfers, the LPGA’s membership includes touring, teaching and club professionals. The LPGA Tour in 2007 features 35 events, with total prize money of nearly $55 million. Since 1981, the LPGA and its tournaments have raised approximately $180
million for charity. From the dreams of its 13 founders in 1950, the
LPGA has evolved into the world’s pre-eminent women’s professional sports organization. The LPGA has grown from its roots as a playing tour into a non-profit organization involved in every facet of golf.
The LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. For more information, log on to www.LPGA.com
Contact:
Elise Chisholm
Edelman for Getty Images
206-268-2270
elise.chisholm@edelman.com
Molly Lohman
Getty Images
206-925-6054
molly.lohman@gettyimages.com
Connie Wilson
LPGA
386-274-6271
connie.wilson@lpga.com
