WME SWINGS FOR FENCES WITH IMG BUY

摘要

William Morris Endeavor made a dramatic move Dec. 17, partnering with investment firm Silver Lake to buy IMG, the storied agency known for representing elite athletes and fashion models. The reported $2.2 billion deal will help WME match rival CAA's recent sports push. The strategy is not just to enter new areas but to create cross-media packages around models and athletes, as WME already does with Hollywood clients including Oprah Winfrey, Claire Danes, Christian Bale and others. It will be interesting to watch the paths of supermodel Giseie Biindschen, NFL quarterback Peyton Manning, tennis champion Novak Djokovic and pop star Taylor Swift once they get under the WME tent.