US Open Picked Up By ESPN, The Tennis Channel

ESPN and the Tennis Channel will start televising the United States Open starting next year through 2014, ending the USA Network's reign as the Open's exclusive cable TV home.

The agreement will be announced at a news conference Monday.

ESPN will pay the United States Tennis Association $140 million, and the Tennis Channel will give ESPN an unspecified amount to sublicense about 60 of the 160 hours to be seen on cable. The payment to the U.S.T.A. will be in cash, promotional value and other considerations.

USA, the tournament's cable home since 1984, has been paying about $18 million to $22 million annually. The new contracts will give ESPN and the Tennis Channel the rights to all four tennis majors, an especially noteworthy accomplishment for the Tennis Channel, the 5-year-old, all-tennis network that is 24 years younger than ESPN.

"Two years ago, we had no majors," said Ken Solomon, the chairman of the Tennis Channel. "We're a little punch-drunk, and I feel like the guy who's asked how you feel winning the Super Bowl. It hasn't sunk in."

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Comments

[GlennHar]

Well, this isn't entirely good news. USA broadcast the Open in HD. I don't think the Tennis Channel can do that. Also, it's actually terrible news that John McEnjerk will continue to take up time that could be much more intelligently utilized by Mary Carillo.

[strifeknot]

Mary Carillo is terrific; one of my favorite analysts in any sport.

[Hobobrown]

Too bad my piece of crap cable service (Cablevision) doesn't carry Tennis Network after repeated requests. Too busy paying for piece of crap Basketball team and coach and sex suit.