ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) and Tennis Australia have agreed to a nine-year deal that will cover the Australian Open exclusively on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+ from 2023 through 2031.
Every match from all 16 courts – singles (including qualifiers), doubles, juniors, wheelchair, and legends – will be broadcast live from Melbourne. The deal extends ESPN’s longest competitive sports broadcasting relationship, which dates back to 1984. The 2023 Australian Open will be held from January 16, 2023, to January 29, 2023.
ESPN+ will broadcast over 1,300 games and 1,80,000 minutes of coverage from the sport’s major leagues year-round, with access to three of the four.
Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, ESPN and Sports Content, said, “We are proud of our nearly four-decade relationship with Tennis Australia and are thrilled to continue our exclusive coverage of one of the sport’s most important events.
“The Open has provided so many memorable moments on our networks. With the capacity and quality of ESPN+, we can bring fans Down Under for every match, from qualifying through the championship of each division.”
Craig Tiley, Australian Open Tournament Director, stated, “ESPN has been an outstanding partner of the Australian Open for nearly 40 years and I’m delighted to extend and expand our collaboration. As one of our most longstanding broadcasters, ESPN has a reputation for innovation and great storytelling, both of which form part of the Australian Open DNA.
“Together we look forward to connecting with an even wider fan base in the United States and Canada and attracting new audiences across multiple platforms.
“As well as comprehensive coverage of the compelling on-court action, we will work together to also showcase the human stories, the personalities of the players and their teams, their preparation for competition on the Grand Slam stage and their journey to greatness.”
ESPN and ESPN2 shall feature live nightly telecasts, usually starting at 9 PM EST and including numerous matches through the semifinals, and an increase in cable television hours. Semifinals, Women’s and Men’s Championships, as well as repeat broadcasts of the finals, are also included.
ESPN+ shall feature replays of finished matches available on-demand, all championships, including doubles, juniors, wheelchair, and legends, and highlights featuring all 224 qualifying matches which will be covered in detail. All this is available both in Spanish and English on ESPN+.