Reuters
has acquired an archive of more than 50 years of sports photography, to
boost its global picture business, by buying Action Images, the
specialist sports photography agency.
Action Images is based in
London and its clients include major sports clubs and governing bodies,
international media publishers and sponsors. It has a team of
photographers working on editorial and commercial assignments, and has
developed an archive in excess of seven million sports images with more
than 1.5 million available online. The deal enables Reuters to expand
the sale of its pictures beyond its traditional media client base into
the commercial market, and to build up Action Images in markets outside
the UK. Action Images will have access to Reuters sports news text and
graphics, and will use these to create multi-media products for its
clients.
Action Images founder David Jacobs is remaining as
managing director of the business. Monique Villa, global head of news
and pictures at Reuters, becomes chairman of the company, and Philip
Kelly its chief executive.
● Above: Action Images picture of Germany’s Stefan Pfanmoeller in the Athens Olympics, 2004
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