Global sports broadcaster beIN Sports has agreed a strategic global media rights partnership with the International Tennis Federation for its Davis Cup and Fed Cup national team tournaments.
The seven-year agreement runs from 2015 to 2021. The ITF has said it is the largest ever television and digital rights deal for the Davis Cup and Fed Cup – respectively the world’s premier men’s and women’s team tennis events.
BeIN Sports will seek to increase the global exposure of both tournaments across both linear and digital channels, working alongside the ITF’s existing broadcast partners. It will also produce and televise the competitions across its channels in some parts of the world.
BeIN Media Group chief executive Nasser Al-Khelaifi said: “We believe that Davis Cup and Fed Cup are great occasions within the tennis calendar, showcasing the best of the game in a unique national team environment. Tennis is a fundamental part of our international sports programming and we look forward to working with the ITF to grow these competitions across the world.”
ITF executive vice-president Juan Margets added: “The naming of beIN Sports as the official global media rights partner of the ITF launches a new model for television and digital coverage of the ITF’s flagship competitions that will deliver more and better coverage for our fans around the world across all platforms. Following an 18 month review process, it became clear that beIN Sports would be the best partner for the sport’s World Cup of Tennis – Davis Cup and Fed Cup – from a coverage, viewership, content and production perspective.”