Tennis Channel to bring more Women’s Tennis in new deal

Television network Tennis Channel will become the new over-the-top (OTT) digital streaming and linear television home of Women’s tennis after signing a landmark deal with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Through this five-year deal, Tennis Channel will claim the live, OTT streaming rights to more than 2,000 matches per year, which will include premier and international tournaments and the end-of-season WTA Finals event.

Tennis fans will also be able to view additional WTA matches that are not available on the linear network by subscribing directly to the network’s Tennis Channel Plus streaming service.

The WTA worked with its media-rights partner DAZN Group and the current global rights holder BeIN Sport to facilitate the move.

As part of the agreement, BeIN Sport will continue to offer events outside of the United States and provide highlights and match replays, as well as coordinating appropriate cross-channel promotions with the Tennis Channel.

Ken Solomon, president of Tennis Channel, said: “Everyone involved – the WTA, BeIN Sport, DAZN Group, Tennis Channel – came together for this partnership, with the result a big victory for American tennis fans.

“As we continue to aggressively grow our closely integrated television and streaming subscriber bases – along with online, social media and print – we’re looking forward to forging new ground with the WTA in creating new, expanded demand and broad, nationwide awareness and excitement for the sport we love and represent.”

Micky Lawler, WTA president, added: “We look forward to growing the WTA with the Tennis Channel across US households through unified broadcast, streaming and media platforms.”

Tennis Channel will begin broadcasting WTA matches again at the start of 2019.