IMG Wins WVU Multimedia Rights, Previously Managed In-House

IMG College has won the multimedia rights to West Virginia Univ., one of the few remaining schools that had managed and marketed its rights in-house. Terms of the deal were not available. The agency, which owns the rights to more than 80 universities across the country, is working through the final stages of contract talks with WVU AD Oliver Luck, who initiated the idea of outsourcing the rights early last year. A formal announcement on the deal is expected in the coming weeks. Virginia-based Rockbridge Sports Group has been consulting with WVU and helped manage the bid process.

IMG College won the bid over as many as nine contenders, including Learfield Sports, Nelligan Sports, CBS Collegiate Sports Properties, Fox Sports Net, Front Row Marketing, Legends Sales and Marketing, XOS Digital and West Virginia Radio Corp. IMG College’s contract with WVU will kick in July 1, and the agency already has begun a search for a GM.