Discovery serves up 10 year Tennis Australia broadcast deal for Europe

Discovery Sports has announced a long-term deal to carry the Australian Open exclusively across Europe. 

The deal will start in 2022 and run through to 2031, and includes all linear and digital rights to the premiere Australian tennis tournament. 

Eurosport has long been associated with the event, having broadcast its first Australian Open in 1995.

Discovery said that it will use its linear and digital platforms – including discovery+ – to provide the Australian Open with “a bigger and broader audience than ever before” while collaborating with Tennis Australia a wide range of lifestyle and entertainment content from beyond the sport.

The deal will also see Eurosport hold exclusive rights to lead-up events, including the Adelaide International ATP tournament on a pan-European basis.

Discovery said that its coverage of the 2021 Australian Open saw record-breaking audiences, with a 36% increase in video starts versus 2020 and an 84% uplift in minutes watched versus 2020.

Andrew Georgiou, President of Sports, Discovery, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Tennis Australia and deepen our association with them around what is one of the jewels in the crown of the tennis season. We have an incredible heritage in delivering leading tennis coverage for broad audiences enjoying Grand Slam events on our platforms, covering all the stories that matter on and off the court on whichever platform people chose to follow the tournament.

“Extending our relationship with the Australian Open on a long-term basis mean we can take this even further, utilising the full breadth and depth of Discovery’s global channels, platforms and brands – including Eurosport and our streaming service discovery+ – to work with Tennis Australia and reach new audiences, around new and different stories, to play an even bigger part in helping grow the tournament.”