The Tennis Channel Acquires First Grand Slam Telecast Rights Through French Tennis Federation Agreement

The Tennis Channel Acquires First Grand Slam Telecast Rights Through French Tennis Federation Agreement

LOS ANGELES and PARIS, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The French Tennis Federation (FFT) and The Tennis Channel today announced a broad, ground-breaking multi-year agreement that gives the media brand exclusive U.S. non-broadcast network rights to Roland Garros (commonly referred to as the French Open), the world's most prestigious clay-court championship and one of professional tennis' four "Grand Slam" tournaments, beginning in 2007. Via the deal, The Tennis Channel acquires its first-ever Grand Slam telecast coverage rights. The agreement was announced today by Christian Bimes, president, the FFT, and Ken Solomon, chairman and CEO, The Tennis Channel.

As part of the deal, The Tennis Channel receives exclusive U.S. telecast rights to all Roland Garros matches including singles, doubles, mixed doubles, juniors and seniors (with the exception of established NBC coverage). In addition, the network plans to produce and televise Roland Garros-themed original programming, highlights, press conferences and news updates originating from the tournament.

Beyond U.S. telecast rights, a major point of the agreement gives The Tennis Channel U.S. rights in all media, including exclusive broadband and video-on-demand (VOD) rights to tournament, as well as access to Roland Garros' media archives including classic matches from past tournaments, which will be used throughout the year to create French Open-themed series, specials and new media applications.

"On behalf of the Federation Francaise de Tennis, we're thrilled to enter into this agreement with The Tennis Channel," said Bimes.

"Devoted and casual tennis fans alike will be sparked by a whole new level of French Open coverage -- the most of any Grand Slam in American television history," said Solomon. "But more than just the on-court aspect, we're going to make you feel what it's like to be there, to take in the experience that the event encompasses: the history, the lifestyle, the travel, Paris -- all of it."

The Tennis Channel plans to significantly increase the number of live and taped hours televised to U.S. viewers, and will promote Roland Garros across all media platforms, and create national marketing campaigns. To this end, the agreement also gives the network the right to sublicense portions of the live event programming to other U.S. media entities to ensure widespread reach and coverage.

Source: The Tennis Channel

CONTACT: Eric Abner, The Tennis Channel, +1-310-309-0061,
eabner@thetennischannel.com, or Michel Grach, FFT, +33-1474-35206

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