Warner Bros Discovery’s Turner Sports has made a major move in the world of sports broadcasting by securing the U.S. rights to the French Open tennis tournament. The annual tournament, which is set to conclude this weekend in Paris, will be broadcast on WBD’s linear networks and its Max streaming platform starting in 2025. The 10-year deal marks a significant shift in the landscape of tennis broadcasting in the U.S.
Currently, NBCUniversal and the Tennis Channel hold the rights to broadcast the French Open in the U.S., but with this new agreement, WBD will take over the coverage. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but it is clear that WBD is making a strong push into the world of sports broadcasting.
This move comes on the heels of another significant rights deal for WBD, as they recently secured a sublicense for College Football Playoff games from ESPN. With the addition of the French Open to their lineup, WBD is positioning itself as a major player in the sports broadcasting industry.
The future of sports broadcasting is rapidly evolving, with streaming platforms like Max and Venu becoming increasingly important. With the NBA rights set to shift after the 2024-25 season, the competition for broadcasting rights is fierce. WBD, along with other major players like Disney/ESPN, Amazon, and NBCUniversal, are all vying for a piece of the lucrative sports broadcasting pie.
As the sports broadcasting landscape continues to change, one thing is clear: WBD is making bold moves to establish itself as a major player in the industry. With the addition of the French Open to their lineup, they are poised to become a dominant force in sports broadcasting for years to come.