With a proven track record in licensing and working with IP and brand holders alongside software publishers and developers, ILM has stated that this new global sports license also grants the publisher or developer the rights to all players, venues and images from ITTF events.
David Colley, Managing Director, Interactive Licensing Management Ltd.: “We are delighted to have concluded this arrangement with the ITTF. Table tennis is a long standing Olympic sport and a sustainable brand that does not require reinventing every few years. The license provides a realistic opportunity to build the biggest table tennis online community and ILM is looking forward to exploring all the potential opportunities afforded by this exciting license with publishers and developers.”
Steve Dainton, Marketing Director, International Table Tennis Federation:“The ITTF is excited about the possibilities provided by this licensing deal and we are delighted by the passion and experience with global sports brands that ILM has brought to the table. With a loyal following throughout the world, we are ready to welcome new fans to the table tennis family thanks to their exposure to an interactive version of the sport.”
The link between table tennis and interactive entertainment dates back to the earliest days of video games and Pong – the first video game to be developed by Atari. The deal being brokered by ILM incorporates the rights for all current interactive platforms (including home console and PC formats), the potential to develop a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). The application of the license is not limited to the traditional retail boxed product model, as it also encompasses all future interactive platforms, including mobile device gaming and the burgeoning digital distribution markets.
Consumer interest in table tennis has expanded on a yearly basis, including an ever-increasing worldwide television audience, particularly since its introduction as an Olympic sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The sport has reached into more territories than ever before – including China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom – and is broadcast on the likes of ESPN, Eurosport, Fox Sports World, Sky Sports, TVE and ZDF. An impressive 330 million viewers tuned in to watch the Women’s Team final at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.