ESPN and TTC to broadcast US Open beginning in 2009.

Fee · 05-09-2008, 05:45 PM

http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fulls...Newsid=2481454

ESPN will officially fill the bill of "Grand Slam Network" and Tennis Channel will take another step forward as a major player when the USTA formally announces the two networks have acquired U.S. Open cable television rights in a midtown Manhattan press conference set for Monday afternoon.

The USTA has scheduled Monday's press conference to "announce a major television and digital media deal for the U.S. Open and Olympus U.S. Open Series. The new deal will create a unified, summer long 'Open Season' for the sport of tennis," a USTA spokesman said today.

The White Plains-based Tennis Association will formally announce it has completed a deal with ESPN and Tennis Channel for U.S. Open rights on Monday.

USA Network's U.S. Open cable rights expire at the end of the 2008 Flushing Meadows major. ESPN and Tennis Channel will begin televising the U.S. Open in 2009. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Monday's formal announcement will confirm the story Tennis Week broke on April 26. Sources close to the deal told Tennis Week last month the USTA had come to terms on a contract that would give ESPN and Tennis Channel combined U.S. Open cable rights.

A USTA spokesman denied the TW report at the time.

"The USTA does not have a deal at this time with ESPN or with Tennis Channel," the spokesman told Tennis Week shortly after the Tennis Week story was posted. "USA Network made a proposal to keep the U.S. Open. We continue to discuss the future U.S. Open cable package with a number of interested parties."

Despite that denial, USA Network executives had already confirmed the network would not be renewing its rights and sources close to the deal told Tennis Week an agreement between the USTA, ESPN and TC had been reached.

Rumors circulated for years that ESPN's commitment to televising the U.S. Open Series — the summer-long series of North American tournaments leading up to the season's final major in New York City — came with an implied agreement from the USTA that when USA Network's contract for Open rights came to an end, ESPN would take over as the Open's cable television home. When the USTA became an investor in Tennis Channel it fueled further speculation that the groundwork had been set for an ESPN/TC broadcast partnership for the Open: the networks already share coverage of the Australian Open and French Open.

ESPN officials would not confirm such an agreement existed in past interviews with Tennis Week.

ESPN has televised the U.S. Open Series since its inception and its partnership with the USTA on the U.S. Open Series made its eventual acquisition of U.S. Open rights seemingly inevitable.

In recent years, Bristol-based ESPN reduced its its coverage of Masters Series events and Davis Cup opting instead to invest its resources and programming time televising the Grand Slams and U.S. Open Series events.

ESPN did not renew its rights for Davis Cup, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, the Tennis Masters Cup and the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships. It was a shift in programming strategy as the network now focuses its tennis coverage primarily on the three majors — the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon — that it already telecasts either solely or in partnership with the Tennis Channel.

The new deal should exponentially expand both the tennis audience for the Open and the ad revenue for ESPN.

In return, the USTA should receive unprecedented levels of exposure for its crown jewel, the U.S. Open, by gaining its most comprehensive coverage of the tournament (CBS owns network rights to the Open). Since ESPN can shift late-running matches between three potential networks — ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic — instances of viewers missing the conclusion of late-night matches that could occur on occasion when USA Network cut away at 11 p.m. Eastern time for regularly-scheduled programming should be reduced.

Pontential web streaming of U.S. Open Series events and the U.S. Open would generate even greater exposure for the Open translating into more advertising and sponsorship dollars for the USTA, which recently announced Olympus has taken over as title sponsor of the U.S. Open Series.

The network that has long billed itself as "The Grand Slam Network" will complete its cable television Grand Slam sweep starting next year while Tennis Channel now owns or shares rights to three of the four majors.

Interestingly, Tennis Channel is not available in many parts of Westchester County, New York meaning the USTA cannot get Tennis Channel through Cablevision in its White Plains headquarters. The USTA reports it does receive TC through DirecTV.

Tennis Week will update this story after Monday's press conference in Manhattan.

jmsx521 · 05-09-2008, 05:53 PM

What's going to happen to that Michael commentator guy from USA Network? He was a character to watch!?

Fedexeon · 05-12-2008, 03:45 AM

A summary of the US Open coverage will be in 2009

First Week

* ESPN2: Live every weekday from 1-6 pm and primetime from 7-11 p.m.
* Tennis Channel: Live every weekday from 11-2 p.m.; live outer court coverage from 2-6 p.m.; daily Preview Show from 10-11a.m.; nightly Highlight Show from 11-3 a.m.; nightly encore of matches from 3-10 a.m. each night.

Labor Day Weekend

* CBS Sports: Live coverage from 11-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
* ESPN2: Live coverage on Monday from 7-11 p.m.
* Tennis Channel: Live coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 7-11 p.m.; nightly Highlight Show from 11-3 a.m.; nightly encore of matches from 3-10 a.m.

Second Week/Quarterfinals

* ESPN2: Live every weekday from 11-6 pm and live primetime quarterfinals from 7-11 p.m.
* Tennis Channel: Live outer court coverage from 11-6 p.m.; daily Preview Show from 10-11 a.m.; nightly Highlight Show at 11 p.m.; nightly encore of matches from 3-10 a.m.

Finals Weekend

* CBS: Live coverage during Finals weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including the Men’s Doubles Final, the Men’s and Women’s Semifinals, the Women’s Primetime Final on Saturday night and the Men’s Final on Sunday.
* ESPN2: Live coverage of Women’s Doubles Final at 1 p.m. Sunday; U.S. Open Wrap-Up Show from 8-10 p.m.

babolatking · 05-12-2008, 06:34 AM

here is the link from ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ten...ory?id=3391641

Klatu Verata Necktie · 05-12-2008, 08:32 AM

That's great news. I'm glad to hear that ESPN didn't drop its Masters Series events due to lack of interest in tennis, but rather to readjust its strategy.

Rabbit · 05-12-2008, 09:37 AM

Well, I have to say that I did enjoy USA's coverage of the US Open. They did a great job and their coverage, IMO, was better than ESPN's of like tournaments. USA would stay on the air until the match finished no matter how long it took.

That said, as a Tennis Channel subscriber, I am also glad to see the Tennis Channel making more inroads. The more they can monopolize, the more demand there should be for their product and the more solvent they'll be. I just hope they aren't over reaching their pocket books right now and putting their future in jeopardy.

Fee · 05-13-2008, 11:52 AM

I hope you are right, Rabbit. I'm hoping that the Slam coverage will increase TTC's rankings, then increase their revenue, and help them increase their coverage of other tournaments in the long run (perhaps IW and Miami?). It would be nice if this deal also encouraged more cable systems to add them to their channels lineups in the next 12 months.

Eastern Technifibre · 05-13-2008, 12:05 PM

yahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

VGP · 05-13-2008, 12:07 PM

Fee - does that mean we'll be seeing more of Justin Gimelstob?

Fee · 05-13-2008, 12:29 PM

I don't know. I think his contract with TTC is for this year only, with an option. Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens. TTC and ESPN will both have to add a few more people I suppose.

Rabbit · 05-13-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fee

I hope you are right, Rabbit. I'm hoping that the Slam coverage will increase TTC's rankings, then increase their revenue, and help them increase their coverage of other tournaments in the long run (perhaps IW and Miami?). It would be nice if this deal also encouraged more cable systems to add them to their channels lineups in the next 12 months.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if, in 5 years or so, all tournaments except the Grand Slams were on the Tennis Channel.

zacinnc78 · 05-13-2008, 12:38 PM

yea i was just thinking while ago how much it costs to have atp mastertv and how little i been using since ttc has been covering more...so the more the merrier

ezdude1970 · 05-13-2008, 12:58 PM

even though, i love the USA network coverage, i feel that ESPN and TTC will do a good job covering US OPen, mainly because TTC has been very good and is my favorite chanel on TV.

Moreover, i want to thank TTC for the HD upgrade, I have been watching Hamburg in HD and it brings tears to my eyes. Keep up a good job!

Aeropro master · 05-13-2008, 02:17 PM

thanks, good post fee

Rabbit · 05-13-2008, 04:10 PM

yeah, let me second that Fee. I do appreciate your inside track on this kind of info, it is very helpful.

Fedexeon · 05-14-2008, 01:43 AM

I think this is a good thing, if the end result is tennis fans get to watch more tennis.

And its is nice to see Tennis Channel growing.

strife726 · 05-14-2008, 03:07 AM

I personally thought that USA's coverage of the open was better then any networks coverage of a slam. They would show more courts, more matches, and tend to cut away on those one sided early matches on AA. Many times i remember their coverage even running from 11am-11pm, with no break.

Its funny to see people who think the US Open going to ESPN as a good thing after all the hate it got in the past for its "coverage".

fantom · 05-14-2008, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strife726

I personally thought that USA's coverage of the open was better then any networks coverage of a slam. They would show more courts, more matches, and tend to cut away on those one sided early matches on AA. Many times i remember their coverage even running from 11am-11pm, with no break.

Its funny to see people who think the US Open going to ESPN as a good thing after all the hate it got in the past for its "coverage".

I agree. I'm a little hesitant about ESPN taking over the US Open. At least with USA coverage, you knew for certain that tennis would be on TV. Most likely LIVE tennis. With ESPN's sketchy track record I don't feel you can count on them. I guess the programming will be shifted to TTC if ESPN deems that they'll get more viewers by airing poker or something.

JackSkellington · 05-14-2008, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klatu Verata Necktie

That's great news. I'm glad to hear that ESPN didn't drop its Masters Series events due to lack of interest in tennis, but rather to readjust its strategy.

Terrible news. ESPN has done a piss poor job at covering their tennis events and would rather show fishing live

Thrasher · 05-14-2008, 07:45 AM

Does anyone know why USA is dropping their coverage? I was always extreemly impressed with their coverage of the Open and can't figure out why they would want to drop it.

05-09-2008, 05:45 PM	#1
Fee Legend Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: In front of my computer, obviously Posts: 7,304	ESPN and TTC to broadcast US Open beginning in 2009. http://www.tennisweek.com/news/fulls...Newsid=2481454 ESPN will officially fill the bill of "Grand Slam Network" and Tennis Channel will take another step forward as a major player when the USTA formally announces the two networks have acquired U.S. Open cable television rights in a midtown Manhattan press conference set for Monday afternoon. The USTA has scheduled Monday's press conference to "announce a major television and digital media deal for the U.S. Open and Olympus U.S. Open Series. The new deal will create a unified, summer long 'Open Season' for the sport of tennis," a USTA spokesman said today. The White Plains-based Tennis Association will formally announce it has completed a deal with ESPN and Tennis Channel for U.S. Open rights on Monday. USA Network's U.S. Open cable rights expire at the end of the 2008 Flushing Meadows major. ESPN and Tennis Channel will begin televising the U.S. Open in 2009. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Monday's formal announcement will confirm the story Tennis Week broke on April 26. Sources close to the deal told Tennis Week last month the USTA had come to terms on a contract that would give ESPN and Tennis Channel combined U.S. Open cable rights. A USTA spokesman denied the TW report at the time. "The USTA does not have a deal at this time with ESPN or with Tennis Channel," the spokesman told Tennis Week shortly after the Tennis Week story was posted. "USA Network made a proposal to keep the U.S. Open. We continue to discuss the future U.S. Open cable package with a number of interested parties." Despite that denial, USA Network executives had already confirmed the network would not be renewing its rights and sources close to the deal told Tennis Week an agreement between the USTA, ESPN and TC had been reached. Rumors circulated for years that ESPN's commitment to televising the U.S. Open Series — the summer-long series of North American tournaments leading up to the season's final major in New York City — came with an implied agreement from the USTA that when USA Network's contract for Open rights came to an end, ESPN would take over as the Open's cable television home. When the USTA became an investor in Tennis Channel it fueled further speculation that the groundwork had been set for an ESPN/TC broadcast partnership for the Open: the networks already share coverage of the Australian Open and French Open. ESPN officials would not confirm such an agreement existed in past interviews with Tennis Week. ESPN has televised the U.S. Open Series since its inception and its partnership with the USTA on the U.S. Open Series made its eventual acquisition of U.S. Open rights seemingly inevitable. In recent years, Bristol-based ESPN reduced its its coverage of Masters Series events and Davis Cup opting instead to invest its resources and programming time televising the Grand Slams and U.S. Open Series events. ESPN did not renew its rights for Davis Cup, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, the Tennis Masters Cup and the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships. It was a shift in programming strategy as the network now focuses its tennis coverage primarily on the three majors — the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon — that it already telecasts either solely or in partnership with the Tennis Channel. The new deal should exponentially expand both the tennis audience for the Open and the ad revenue for ESPN. In return, the USTA should receive unprecedented levels of exposure for its crown jewel, the U.S. Open, by gaining its most comprehensive coverage of the tournament (CBS owns network rights to the Open). Since ESPN can shift late-running matches between three potential networks — ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic — instances of viewers missing the conclusion of late-night matches that could occur on occasion when USA Network cut away at 11 p.m. Eastern time for regularly-scheduled programming should be reduced. Pontential web streaming of U.S. Open Series events and the U.S. Open would generate even greater exposure for the Open translating into more advertising and sponsorship dollars for the USTA, which recently announced Olympus has taken over as title sponsor of the U.S. Open Series. The network that has long billed itself as "The Grand Slam Network" will complete its cable television Grand Slam sweep starting next year while Tennis Channel now owns or shares rights to three of the four majors. Interestingly, Tennis Channel is not available in many parts of Westchester County, New York meaning the USTA cannot get Tennis Channel through Cablevision in its White Plains headquarters. The USTA reports it does receive TC through DirecTV. Tennis Week will update this story after Monday's press conference in Manhattan. __________________ Pros should stop wasting money on coaches and doctors and just read the experts on this forum.

05-09-2008, 05:53 PM	#2
jmsx521 Hall Of Fame Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3,496	What's going to happen to that Michael commentator guy from USA Network? He was a character to watch!? __________________ Looking for this match: 98 Estoril, Berasategui d. Moya 61 61 "All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind." -Aristotle

05-12-2008, 06:34 AM	#4
babolatking Rookie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: The "mond", VA Posts: 389	here is the link from ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/ten...ory?id=3391641 __________________ 3x Pure Storms with Full Technifibre Pro Red Code Babolat Alliance

05-12-2008, 08:32 AM	#5
Klatu Verata Necktie Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 1,825	That's great news. I'm glad to hear that ESPN didn't drop its Masters Series events due to lack of interest in tennis, but rather to readjust its strategy. __________________ Member of Tennis Warehouse's South Florida Tennis Chapter

05-12-2008, 09:37 AM	#6
Rabbit G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: at the bottom of every hill I come to Posts: 11,113	Well, I have to say that I did enjoy USA's coverage of the US Open. They did a great job and their coverage, IMO, was better than ESPN's of like tournaments. USA would stay on the air until the match finished no matter how long it took. That said, as a Tennis Channel subscriber, I am also glad to see the Tennis Channel making more inroads. The more they can monopolize, the more demand there should be for their product and the more solvent they'll be. I just hope they aren't over reaching their pocket books right now and putting their future in jeopardy. __________________ Wilson Steam 99S poly Luxilon 4G 1.25 @ 45

05-13-2008, 02:17 PM	#14
Aeropro master Professional Join Date: May 2007 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 899	thanks, good post fee __________________ 2 Aeropro Drive cortex w/ Polyfibre TCS Posted from my iPod touch.