World Table Tennis, the new commercial arm of the International Table Tennis Federation, has developed its video archive in co-operation with Imagen, the UK-based video management platform business.
Around 6,000 hours of exclusive match footage, including over 9,000 matches that stretch back to the 1930s, have been digitised and uploaded to Imagen’s platform.
Imagen’s platform will also house archive content from all future international table tennis events once the ITTF events get underway again after the Covid-19 shutdown.
Joachim Davy, creative director at WTT, said: “As well as ensuring that the evolution of this international sport is captured forever, this partnership has helped us to keep our media channels lively with content even during the global pandemic. 95 per cent of video content now originates from Imagen’s platform.”
WTT said that the platform would allow it to monetise video content more effectively. Key archive matches and moments will be shared and distributed to broadcasters and editors worldwide. Some content will be restricted to premium access for both media and fans, while other archive highlights will be showcased free of charge on WTT’s social media platforms.
Imagen’s clients in sport include the English Premier League, Major League Baseball, the Women’s Tennis Association and the Endeavor-owned IMG agency.
WTT recently agreed a long-term media-rights, production and non-exclusive sponsorship rights sales deal with IMG. WTT is also tapping into other parts of the Endeavor group, including 160over90, the marketing services arm of which is helping to shape the global promotion strategy.