EHF announces 2007/2008 EHF Men’s Champions League match dates
and takes a look back at the figures from last season before the first throw- off of the season

Vienna – 13th July 2007 – On the day that the European Handball Federation announces the playing schedule for the Group Matches of the 2007/2008 EHF Men’s Champions League season, the EHF sister company EHF Marketing GmbH is proud to announce record figures from last season, which underline the rapid development course which the product has undergone over the course of the past two years, as EHF Marketing GmbH Director, Peter Vargo confirms, “…we are striving to drive the product forward. We took the EHF Champions League into another dimension last season and are pleased with the outcome, especially when we look at the figures; but that said, work is by no means over. We are continuing to work hard and strategically with all our partners to offer the sporting market a top class product. We want the Handball Champions League to be celebrated by sports’ fans throughout Europe.”

The statistics, compiled by EHF Marketing media partner TNS Sport, reach new heights. In the men’s competition alone, approximately 524 hours of EHF Men’s Champions League match action were shown in the 20 countries analysed, generating an audience of over 212,02 million viewers. Coverage of the EHF Champions League by TV partner Eurosport paid dividends for the placement of the product on the sporting market. The 149 live/delayed broadcasts on Eurosport 2 covered the pan-European market. Figures generated from the women’s competitions also confirm the upward trend and ever increasing popularity of handball. In the 13 countries analysed approximately 233 hours of EHF Women’s Champions League were broadcast, with over 190 hours of match action shown around Europe.

The EHF is currently working hard in preparation for the new season, which commenced on 29th June 2007 in the form of the EHF Handball Champions League Gala, where the focus was on the 2007/2008 EHF Men’s & Women’s Champions League Group Match Draws. Following the draw, a consultation period with clubs, TV and marketing partners has taken place to finalise the schedule for the EHF Men’s Champions League Group Matches, which will commence on 26th September 2007, following the qualification round on 1/2 September (1st leg) and 8/9 September (2nd leg).  The women’s competition will begin with the two qualification rounds on 7/8/9 Sep. (qual. 1) and  
28/29/30 Sep. (qual. 2), with the group matches beginning on 24th October 2007.

The European Handball Federation is striving to strengthen the EHF Champions League brand further in 2007/2008 and is looking forward to an action-packed and dynamic season.

Click here for the details on the EHF Men's Champions League Group Matches

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Contact
Siân Rowland
EHF Corporate Communications Manager
Tel:  +43-1-801-51-161
mail: rowland@eurohandball.com
web:  www.ehfCL.com