Firm takes isle sports
to Japanese television

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By Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com

TEAM Unlimited, a Hawaii-based sports marketing firm, recently secured a television agreement with Sports-i TV in Japan that will bring images and stories of Hawaii's lifestyle sports scene to more than 4 million homes in Japan through September.

The initial 40-television-show package with Sports-i TV will showcase TEAM Unlimited's production of the XTERRA Planet Series.

"This is great for Hawaii because these shows are targeted to the active Japanese traveler, which is a growing and lucrative market," said TEAM Unlimited President Tom Kiely.

The XTERRA Planet series consists of 13 half-hour shows covering everything from windsurfing on the North Shore to swimming with manta ray off the Kona coast and mountain biking at the West Maui Mountains.

Sports-i TV, an ESPN-affiliated company, is aimed at the active person 20 to 40 years old. It currently services more than four million homes in Japan.

Air times have been tentatively set for 8 p.m. Thursdays, 5 p.m. Saturdays an Mondays at midnight.

"We're negotiating to keep Hawaii on Japanese television on a virtually year-round basis, which will be a highly unique agreement and provides a distinct advantage over Hawaii's primary competitors," said Kiely.

Partners in TEAM Unlimited's efforts to bring Hawaii television to Japan include the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, Hawaiian Airlines, Oahu Visitors Bureau, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, and the Maui Visitors Bureau.

Since 1990, TEAM Unlimited has produced nearly 180 television shows resulting in two national Sports Emmy nominations, three regional Emmys and 15 Telly awards.

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