ButSpeak.com
News which Matters.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports will become the exclusive U.S. broadcaster of the French Open, starting in 2025, the company announced Tuesday. This marks a significant shift as NBC and the Tennis Channel previously held the U.S. broadcasting rights for the prestigious tennis tournament.
The entertainment giant has inked a 10-year contract with the French Tennis Federation, valued at approximately $65 million annually, according to an insider. This move positions Warner Bros. Discovery as the largest global broadcast partner for the Grand Slam event, which attracted 675,000 spectators this year.
Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO of TNT Sports, expressed excitement over the new deal, stating, “Roland-Garros perfectly aligns with our global sports strategy and our commitment to adding premium live sports content to our TNT Sports portfolio. We look forward to serving fans with a best-in-class content experience and providing them with direct access to more live Roland-Garros coverage than ever before.”
The agreement includes live broadcasts of matches on TNT, TBS, and TruTV, along with simulcasts on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform, Max. The company plans to have an on-site presence with studio and announcing teams stationed at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris.
Previously, Comcast’s NBC, along with its streaming service Peacock, and the Tennis Channel through a sublicensing deal, handled the U.S. broadcasts of the French Open. Warner Bros. Discovery aims to enhance the viewer experience with expanded coverage and accessibility.
This announcement comes as Warner Bros. Discovery prepares to launch a joint sports streaming service named Venu, in collaboration with Disney’s ESPN and Fox, set to debut this fall. Venu will feature TNT, TBS, and TruTV among its channel offerings.
In recent years, Warner Bros. Discovery has aggressively pursued live sports broadcasting rights, securing deals with the National Hockey League, NASCAR, U.S. Soccer, and the College Football Playoffs through a sublicensing arrangement with ESPN. The addition of the French Open further underscores the company’s commitment to expanding its sports portfolio.
Meanwhile, negotiations continue between Warner Bros. Discovery and the NBA to extend their broadcasting partnership. NBCUniversal has made a bid for the package of games currently held by TNT Sports, but Warner Bros. Discovery is exploring different game packages.
Amid industry-wide cost-cutting measures and the aftermath of the Hollywood writers’ strike, major media companies are increasingly relying on live sports to attract larger audiences and boost advertising revenues.
