Channel Nine signs staggering deal to air the Australian Open until 2029 – and it could be worth FAR MORE than the incredible $425million price tag
Channel Nine has fended off late challenges from Seven West Media to secure the rights to broadcast Tennis Australia events until 2029 in a deal worth more than $425million.
In a major shot in the yarn for the game down under, that deal does not take into account ad dollars and services per annum which could drive the five-year deal up to around $100million each year.
It comes after the highly successful 2022 Australian Open, held after three Covid disrupted years that saw Ash Barty win the women’s draw while Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis secured the men’s doubles title.
This year’s Australian Open women’s final was the highest-rating of all time, watched by an Australian television audience of 3.835million.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis celebrate beating Max Purcell and Mathew Ebden in the final of the men’s doubles at the 2022 Australian Open
The men’s final was the highest rating in four years, with a domestic TV audience of 2.333million viewers.
Compared to the $125million deal struck between Nine and Tennis Australia in 2018, this latest agreement represents a significant increase.
The fee is also substantially higher than Tennis Australia’s last deal with Seven in 2014, which was worth about $35million a year.
Nine’s interest in tennis has grown as its streaming service Stan expands its live sports coverage. All four grand slams – the Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open, and French Open – will be broadcast by Nine and Stan.
Barty celebrates winning the 2022 Australian Open final against Danielle Collins of the United States. Her victory was watched by almost four million Aussies
The inaugural United Cup will also be broadcast under the deal, the ATP-WTA event presented in partnership with Tennis Australia that will commence in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from December this year.
‘Tennis attracts both a broad and very passionate following, and is a perfect fit with Nine’s schedule, audiences and advertisers,’ Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby said.
Mike Sneesby (Nine CEO) and Craig Tiley (Tennis Australia CEO). Tennis Australia signs historic Nine Network rights extension
‘The Australian Open has delivered some of Australia’s most iconic sporting moments and largest television audiences and together, we are committed to bringing these great moments to all Australians live and free.’
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tilley hopes the deal will help reach a new audience for the sport in this country,
‘We want to show our sport at its best to continually excite tennis fans, while also appealing to a new generation of fans and players across Australia. This new deal will certainly help us do that.’
Advertisement
