Press Release

India’s first-ever Table Tennis league to be broadcast on Star Sports Select

14 June 2017

The first-ever professional Table Tennis league will feature a mix of leading international and Indian players

> The league comprises 6 franchises and the marquee competition will be hosted in Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai
> Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league will be broadcast live on Star Sports Select 2 HD, Star Sports Select 2 & Hotstar

As we inch closer to India’s first ever professional table tennis league, it was announced today that Star Sports will be the official broadcaster for the inaugural edition of the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) league. Star Sports Select 2 HD and Star Sports Select 2 will bring all the matches live from July 13-30, 2017, from 7:30 PM onwards. The league will be also streamed live on Star India’s digital platform Hotstar.

A Star India Spokesperson said, “At Star Sports, we are committed to nurturing a multi-sport culture in India. Bringing fans closer to Table Tennis through the Ultimate Table Tennis league is a step forward in that direction. Our understanding of the sporting landscape in the country and, more importantly, our everyday connect with the Indian sports fan helps us showcase compelling content. We believe that Ultimate Table Tennis league will generate widespread interest for the sport and provide global exposure to talented Indian players.”

"We are delighted to have Star Sports on board as the official broadcaster for Ultimate Table Tennis. This will help take the league to a larger audience and give them best viewer experience. We believe that the sport will get a wider reach and viewership than ever through this association,” said Vita Dani, League Owner, Ultimate Table Tennis.

This partnership adds to Star Sports’ existing repertoire of domestic leagues like VIVO Pro Kabaddi League, Hero India Super League, Vodafone Premier Badminton League, Coal India Hockey India League, positioning Star Sports as the premier destination for sports in India. Star Sports was also the official broadcasting partner for Seamaster ITTF World Tour India Open, Delhi, 2017.
Ultimate Table Tennis league will have 24 of the best Indians as well as 24 of the leading international players competing in the marquee competition. Each team will have eight players - four men and four women - with an equal mix of overseas and Indian players. Each team will have a foreign and an Indian coach.

About Ultimate Table Tennis:
India's newest franchise sports league Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) is set for its inaugural season in July 2017 to promote and enhance the sport of table tennis in the country. After the positive impact of India Open 2017, held in New Delhi in February 2017, Ultimate Table Tennis aims to take the sport of table tennis to greater heights. UTT is owned and developed by 11Even Sports Private Limited (ESPL), a Mumbai based company exclusively formed for the promotion and development of the game of Table Tennis in India. UTT will strive to be a world-class league that inspires the youth, entertains and engages fans, drives development at grassroots level and delivers value to all stakeholders.

About Star Sports:
Home to a number of leading domestic and International sports, the Star Sports network with ten channels broadcasts premier sporting events which include cricket coverage under the purview of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Cricket Australia, England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC); VIVO Pro Kabaddi; Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL); the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), Premier League, Bundesliga; Badminton World Federation (BWF) events, Vodafone Premier Badminton League (PBL); Hockey India League (HIL); Formula 1; Wimbledon, The French Open and US Open Tennis.

Show me everything from anytime

Is the Media in trouble? Mumbai Press Club holds discussion on subject

Uday Shankar, Star India CEO said, “Just because the media has become capital-intensive, doesn’t mean that it has to compromise on your integrity. Every business has to have a value system, and the editor needs to be sensitive to that. Journalists need to wake up to the economic reality, and it can’t be denied. On the other hand, those who recognise that are willing to swing to the other extreme and do anything. That also is neither healthy nor sustainable.”

Channel V plans more events

Prem Kamath, channel head, Channel V, adds, "Participation has gone up by almost 100 per cent. We have had 500-600 participants earlier, this year we had about 1000 participants in each zonal."

Star India inks distribution deal with Etisalat to offer 17 channels in UAE

Star Group country head Middle East, Africa & Pakistan Sumantra (Sumo) Dutta said, “This is a landmark initiative in our quest to reach out and make the top watched and favourite Star channels available to the widest set of viewers.”

Imagine more
Id: 7425