About CSI Sports - History

For over 30 years CSI Sports has delivered world leading expertise in the negotiation, production, packaging and marketing of international sports for television. CSI Sports continues to bring televised sports to global viewing audiences along with compelling, integrated marketing packages for our clients.

A summary of important milestones since our inception in 1976.

1976- CSI is founded by Michael Watt, with a focus on sports personalities and the emerging sports rights market
1987- CSI started selling the international rights to Italian Serie A soccer
1990- First Episode of the European Soccer Show was broadcast in January
1991- The Football Association becomes a client
1992- The Premier League was created and CSI sold the international television rights
1994- The first episode of The World of Rugby was broadcast in May
1995- CSI Brokered the groundbreaking, 10-year rugby union Super 12 and Tri-Nations (SANZAR)
1998- The first episode of the Western Union World Football Show was broadcast in January
1999-CSI acted as consultant for ECB on the television coverage for the 1999 Cricket World Cup
2000- Interpublic creates sports agency Octagon and acquires CSI and several other businesses
2001- ECB, The FA, The FAPL, RFU all clients of OCSI
2001- Rights market implodes
2006- Five senior executives buy-out the CSI group of companies
2007- IMG the worlds largest sports, entertainment and media company acquires CSI Sports
2008- The FA, The Football League, IEP, Cricket Australia, Cricket New Zealand, Cricket South Africa, Zimbabwe Cricket, SANZAR all remain clients of CSI Sports