MLB Properties Extends Partnership with Getty Images

Getty Images Remains Exclusive Source of World’s Most Valued Baseball Image Collections

NEW YORK, July 13, 2009 - Getty Images, Inc., the world’s leading creator and distributor of visual content and other digital media, today announced a multi-year extension with Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) to continue as the exclusive commercial photo partner of Major League Baseball (MLB) and exclusive licensor of the entire MLB image archive. Under the terms of this agreement, Getty Images will continue to provide MLB, its individual teams, various business partners and the global media immediate access to a vast collection of unique imagery that truly captures the spirit of America’s favorite pastime.

This continued partnership underscores Getty Images’ position as the leader in the sports photography business, offering a full suite of services from licensing and rights management, to hosting and managing the vast and expanding collection of MLB imagery.

“As a premier sports organization, it is essential for MLB to partner with the premier sports photography agency. Getty Images photographers consistently bring a unique perspective to capture imagery that is more than just a commodity,” said Howard Smith, senior vice president of licensing at MLB. “Getty Images is uniquely equipped to preserve our imagery and to make it easily accessible to customers around the world. Their expertise and leadership in sports photography, along with their exceptional distribution were key factors in our renewal.”

Under the agreement, Getty Images will continue to curate one of the most significant collections of MLB imagery available today and its team of award-winning photographers will continue to capture all of the sport’s defining moments throughout the regular season, Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series. The MLB image archive, which contains more than one million images, complements Getty Images’ vast library by featuring many of the sport’s iconic moments played by its greatest athletes across many hallowed grounds.

“Baseball is one of the most heralded sports in America and has made an indelible impression in our collective memory with its visually rich history. Getty Images is honored to continue its partnership with MLBP to make these significant moments in the league’s history, and those still to come, accessible to customers around the world,” said Peter Orlowsky, vice president of business development for Getty Images.

Getty Images’ expertise in sports photography is widely recognized. In addition to being the accredited photography services provider to over 50 international sports’ governing bodies, Getty Images’ award-winning photographers capture events in 130 sports across the globe each year. Getty Images is a trusted image provider with the most accessible, reliable way to search, license, download and manage the broadest selection of relevant imagery for visual communicators around the world.

Getty Images’ complete MLB collection can be viewed online at www.gettyimages.com.