The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is seeking a long-term strategic partner to support its commercial vision for the sport.
It has released preliminary information ahead of issuing a commercial rights tender this month. The new partner will support the body in driving revenue increases, further building the professionalism of table tennis and improving the promotion of the sport.
The ITTF will go to market with all of its commercial rights in 2021, which the body says will mark “the dawn of a new commercial era” for table tennis.
It brought its commercial rights in-house in 2017 before launching its Strategic Plan last year. The body has set out to achieve comprehensive Strategic Plan objectives by 2024.
All commercial rights to all major international ITTF properties will be available from 2021 and the organisation plans on remodelling the way these rights are monetised.
The rights available will cover media; sponsorship; digital, social and TV; gaming and data; event hosting; licensing; players; corporate social responsibility; and future products.
The ITTF said it has already made significant progress to improve competition structures and commercialise international events with the help of the Sports Business Group at professional services company Deloitte.
Chief executive Steve Dainton said: “The commercial rights tender will set out the significant flexibility available to prospective partners with regards to the commercial models that will be considered, the properties included and ultimately the way they are sold. Innovative models and proposals will be welcomed.”