The partnership will attempt to professionalise and commercialise table tennis around the world.
World Table Tennis (WTT) is to enter a ‘strategic partnership’ with IMG for the global media rights development and distribution; production oversight of WTT events; and a mandate to grow the sport of table tennis globally.
The betting data and streaming rights will also be picked up by IMG Arena.
The partnership will begin in January 2021.
The WTT events covered by the deal include the World Table Tennis Championships and the competitions in the new WTT Series – Grand Smashes; WTT Cup Finals; WTT Champions Series; and WTT Contenders Series.
Liu Guoliang , WTT council chair, said: “We are very excited to have IMG on board to help us professionalise and commercialise table tennis throughout the world, and I look forward to our joint efforts to develop global table tennis to greater new heights.”
Steve Dainton, International Table Tennis Federation CEO and WTT director, added: “This is fantastic news for the sport, the players, the fans, the host cities, the commercial partners and everyone who will be joining us on this exciting journey.”
Adam Kelly, co-president of media and events at IMG, said: “We share the vision that the ITTF and WTT have for the sport over the coming years and believe our energy, creativity and expertise on a global scale will add true value across all aspects of the WTT business. We are already looking at opportunities to involve other parts of the wider Endeavor network, to further enhance the commercial value and consumer offering for table tennis.”