W.T.W.C. are in talks to sell broadcast rights for 2014 championships
2013 marked the biggest World Thumb Wrestling Championship yet, and in the wake of American James ‘Tiger Monkey’ Isaacs’ surprise victory the sport has gone viral, with the Huffington Post’s interview with Tiger Monkey one of the site’s hottest trending videos.
Rory Van Bellis, CEO of the World Thumbwrestling Foundation, said: ‘Up until now it’s been more of a community event but considering the level of international interest and the viral videos that have come out of it, it’s about time TV woke up to the sport of the people.’
Apart from yhe UK’s channel 5, mainstream broadcasters have yet to see the scope for some high viewing figures with the broadcasting of world of thumb wrestling. However, the internet has fallen in love with the sport. As well as appearing on the Huffington Post, Tiger Monkey raised over $12,000 via the crowdfunding site Kickstarter to shoot a documentary chronicling his path to glory, which will be premiered in LA later in the year.
With the sport growing in popularity every year, the W.T.W.C. are fielding enquiries from major broadcasters to secure the rights to the 2014 championships, although Mr Van Bellis remained tight lipped: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment on negotiations at this stage, but let’s just say that 2014 will be the year of the thumb. Please contact Thumb Wrestling HQ to inquire about broadcast rights of the event.
