Apple TV Enters UK Tennis Broadcasting Race
Apple TV could be set to join Sky Sports and Eurosport in a battle for the UK broadcast rights of the world’s major tennis tours, according to The Telegraph.
The reports follow an article from The Times on Tuesday (18th October) which revealed that Amazon Prime has recently decided not to extend its five-year relationship with the ATP and WTA Tours, which is set to end in 2023.
In April, Amazon Prime lost the rights to the US Open after being outbid by Sky Sports which now looks to be the beginning of the end for its time as the primary tennis broadcaster in the UK.
The new process of tendering is now underway. Despite not including the four Grand Slams, Sky Sports and Eurosport have been the first to show interest.
Apple TV could now become an unexpected third bidder. The US technology company’s streaming service has been eyeing various sports rights deals in recent months, signing deals across major American baseball leagues and the US football’s top-flight – MLS – this year.
Now, Apple see tennis as an opportunity to enter the European market and will look to challenge Sky and Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Eurosport.
Amazon Prime has broadcast the ATP since 2018, and the WTA Tour since 2020. Eurosport held the rights to the Australian Open throughout that period, and then added the French Open this year after ITV’s deal ran out. The UK Grand Slam, Wimbledon, is broadcast by the BBC.
