BOTTROP - The Union Mondiale de Billard (UMB) and Kozoom International have reached an exclusive, worldwide agreement for media rights. The world billard federation and the multimedia company already worked together in a close partnership since 2010 with the main objective to promote the billiard sport through the worldwide broadcasting of major UMB events. The contract starts on May 1, 2016 and runs out in December 31, 2019.
The agreement was signed in Botrop, Germany, today, by UMB President Mr Farouk Barki and Mr Xavier Carrer and Mr. William Oh, as representatives of Kozoom, in the presence of UMB Vice-President Mr Fernando Requena, UMB Secretary General Mr Rainer Selgrath, assisted by UMB legal adviser, Mr. Erhard Schran.
Mr. Farouk Barki: ,, This agreement marks a new era of ambitious UMB event broadcasting, that will enormously contribute to the professional promotion of our sports. I am sure that it will be to the satisfaction of the players, the audience, organizers and sponsors with the main objective the promotion that our sport deserves, bringing it, next to the spectacular high technical level, to a higher level of professional sports exposure. Hopefully, opening doors to new sponsorships.''
Kozoom International Ltd acquires for the upcoming years the exclusive rights of distribution of UMB events worldwide in all media platforms. Xavier Carrer, CEO of Kozoom: ,, This agreement includes major three cushion events such as the World Cup cycle and the world championship for country teams and individual. Beside, this video licensing, the scoreboard and live scoring system, developed by Kozoom, is still recognized as the official system for UMB events.''
,,Of course it is good news for all carom fans across the world, who are enjoying the live streaming of major three cushion events on kozoom.com since 2010'' emphasizes Xavier Carrer, founder of Kozoom. ,,But it's even more important for the promotion of carom billiards in general as we will focus our energy on tv broadcasting. The sport and the talent of top players deserve a bigger exposure, not only in Korea.''
The agreement is signed: left to right: Erhard Schran, William Oh, Farouk Barki, Xavier Carrer, Fernando Requena and Rainer Selgrath
His Korean partner William Oh, manager of Kozoom Korea, explains: ,,This is a big step for our company, which started the promotion of international events on Korean tv channels ten years ago. Now the market is growing faster, there are many opportunities to increase the number of viewers in our sport, not only on big tv channels, but also on major internet platforms like Naver, which is visited by 70% of people in Korea. More exposure means more sponsoring and I'm sure that players and organizers will have a better future.''
,,Financial details of this contract are confidential'', says Mr. Carrer. ,,But when the UMB President Farouk Barki was interviewed in Viersen, three months ago, he explained: ‘My first target is to bring much more money from TV rights. It sounds like this mission is completed.''
According to Xavier Carrer, this is for sure the biggest deal ever signed by the UMB. ,,I'm very proud of it. I dedicated my life to the promotion of the sport and it deserves the best. Money is important, of course, but the relationship between the UMB and Kozoom is based on trust and loyalty for many years. And it will go on.''
UMB President Farouk Barki: good luck Kozoom