Tokyo, Japan – A new era for table tennis viewership in Japan is set to begin, as World Table Tennis (WTT) and TV TOKYO have inked a groundbreaking broadcast partnership. This four-year agreement, spanning from 2025 through 2028, promises to deliver the most comprehensive coverage of international table tennis to Japanese fans to date.
The deal stands as one of WTT’s most extensive media rights agreements globally, ensuring that Japanese audiences will have front-row seats to every significant moment in the sport, from global competitions to the achievements of their homegrown heroes.
Under the terms of the partnership, TV TOKYO will broadcast a complete schedule of WTT Series events each year. This includes all WTT Grand Smashes – the sport’s most prestigious stage – alongside WTT Champions events, which feature the world’s top 30 male and female singles players.
Fans can also look forward to extensive coverage of WTT Star Contender and WTT Contender events, offering high-stakes global tour action across all levels of competition throughout the calendar. The season-ending WTT Finals, bringing together the sport’s elite, will also be a highlight.
Beyond the WTT Series, the agreement encompasses a wide array of other major international table tennis events. These include the ITTF World Team Championships, the ITTF Singles World Cup, the ITTF World Youth Championships, and the innovative ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, a new format introduced in 2023 that has been praised for its dynamic impact on the sport.
Ali Tavallai, WTT Broadcast Director, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “Japan is a powerhouse in the world of table tennis, and its fans are among the most passionate and knowledgeable on the planet. This partnership with TV TOKYO means we’re not just showing matches, we’re building stories, creating access, and connecting millions of fans with every major WTT moment across the sport.”
For TV TOKYO, the partnership underscores its dedication to presenting the finest international sports content to Japanese audiences. Ichiro Ishikawa, President of TV TOKYO Corporation, commented, “We are proud to continue our partnership with WTT. With the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals and WTT Series, TV TOKYO Corporation, BS TV TOKYO, and the entire TV TOKYO Group are promised to continue putting our best endeavours in delivering the best of table tennis actions and its appeal to the fans both in Japan and overseas.”
Ishikawa also highlighted a significant future event for the nation, adding, “We’re also thrilled by the announcement that the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2028 will be held in Fukuoka, Japan. Leading up to the event, we will continue to prepare and are fully committed to making the best edition ever.”
With a “golden generation” of Japanese table tennis stars already making their mark, including global headliners like Tomokazu Harimoto, Miwa Harimoto, Mima Ito, and Hina Hayata, and rising talents such as Satsuki Odo and Shunsuke Togami, Japanese fans have more reasons than ever to cheer. This comprehensive broadcast deal on TV TOKYO will allow them to follow their favorite players throughout the year, witnessing every major battle and breakthrough moment live.
