FIS Rolls out Updated Revenue-Sharing Broadcast Model
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The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), ski racing’s central governing body, has announced a new, centralized broadcasting and revenue-distribution model for the 2026-27 season. The announcement comes after the FIS struck a new broadcasting agreement with media giant Infront.
It is the first time in FIS history that every member nation— regardless of whether they host events— will receive a share of ski racing’s broadcast revenue. The new approach will help level the playing field for smaller or non event-hosting nations. Beginning in 2024, the FIS is dishing out a total of €30 million, and every nation gets an equal share— €400,000.
“That’s a lot of money, especially for smaller nations,” said FIS President Johan Eliash, now in his fifth year leading the federation. “Before, if you didn’t host events, you didn’t get anything. Now, everyone benefits just by being a member. That’s a big change.”
In addition to the Infront revenue share, FIS has expanded other funding streams that further bolster its global footprint:
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- €5 million annually in direct FIS support, scaled by each country’s event volume and athlete participation
- €7.5 million earmarked to grow global participation in skiing and snowboarding
- €7 million in World Cup prize money assistance
“It’s almost triple what we were distributing before,” Eliasch noted. “The centralized system has worked—even in a very tough market. Over the next eight years, we’ve secured more than 20% increases in World Cup media rights revenues across all organizing federations.”
Athletes are also supposedly getting paid more. Prize money has increased by “up to 40%” from when Eliash took over, and the FIS now contributes directly to the pot— what was previously the sole responsability of local organizers.
The United States is joining the party, too. A longtime holdout managing its own TV rights— the USA will officially join the new broadcast system in 2026, adding to the central revenue scheme’s revenue and ideally making broadcasts more consistent and accessible.
