Last year, the ISSF produced video footage of seven World Cup stages, two World Cup finals and the Shotgun World Championship via the European Broadcasting Union network.

In all, some 150 television stations worldwide featured shooting coverage.

"Over 400 million viewers shows us that shooting – and the ISSF World Cup Series – is reaching a worldwide audience and has great potential," said ISSF vice-president Gary Anderson, a two time rifle shooting Olympic champion for the United States.

"We are happy about these numbers, and we are encouraged to continue on this path.

"We are now looking forward to improving these figures in 2012."

One million playbacks were also recorded from the ISSF YouTube channel, which offered exclusive interviews and highlight packages as well as the footage from World Cup rounds.

"These data are promising - the investment the ISSF made in TV production and distribution is paying off," ISSF secretary general Franz Schreiber said.

"We will continue with our communication strategy, in order to improve the visibility of our sport on a worldwide level."

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