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ESPN and Tennis Channel Net U.S. Open Cable Rights
ESPN and the Tennis Channel have won the cable rights to the U.S. Open starting next year and running through 2014. The two networks take over from USA, which has held the rights since 1984.
For ESPN (which will air the tennis matches on ESPN2), the U.S. Open acquisition gives the network at least a taste of all four tennis majors.
CBS remains the home of the broadcast rights to the U.S. Open.
The Tennis Channel, just five years old, will sublicense about 60 of the 160 cable hours of coverage from ESPN. With the U.S. Open deal in hand, the Tennis Channel now has several rounds of each of the tennis majors as well. Two years ago it had no majors on its schedule.
The two networks will also share coverage of the U.S. Open Series, which includes nine ATP Tour and WTA Tour events. —J.R. Whalen
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May 12, 2008 4:29 PM
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