BeIN Sports secures French Open

Pay TV operator beIN Sports has secured exclusive rights to the Roland-Garros French Open tennis tournament in 10 territories across the Asia region.

The new media rights agreement covers five editions of the tournament from 2022 to 2026.

The Asian territories included in the agreement are Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Philippines, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The tournament coverage will be shown live on beIN Sports channels available on pay TV platforms in the region, including on beIN’s live streaming app, beIN Sports Connect.

beIN Sports is currently the broadcast rights holder for the ATP Tour in Australia and Singapore and has plans to expand its rights to include other territories in the region.  The acquisition of Roland-Garros is one of the first Grand Slams to be added to its tennis offering in Asia, the company said.

Last June, beIN SPORTS announced a renewal deal with UEFA in seven countries across Asia-Pacific, which will see beIN Sports broadcast the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League and the UEFA Youth League until 2024.  beIN Sports also holds rights to LaLiga, Serie A and Ligue 1 in the region.

Mike Kerr, managing director of beIN Sports Asia Pacific, said: “As the only Grand Slam played on clay and most unforgiving of all tournaments, Roland-Garros is arguably the best spectacle tennis has to offer. We are excited to include it in our ever-expanding line-up of premium sports content on beIN SPORTS. Our goal is to build a strong tennis proposition and strengthen the great sport we have on offer across our platforms. The tournament will form a core part of our group-wide beINSPIRED efforts, as we aim to inspire the next generation of athletes and fans – regardless of gender, race or background. Our role as broadcaster goes beyond the screen, which is why we want to contribute meaningfully through our beINSPIRED initiatives.”

Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation, said: “We are very pleased to have signed this broadcast agreement with beIN Sports. As well as underscoring the ever-increasing interest of tennis fans in the tournament, it will enhance the status that Roland-Garros enjoys in South-East Asia.”