Pay-television broadcaster ESPN International has renewed a distribution rights deal in Latin America and the Caribbean for the Australian Open tennis grand slam tournament.
The deal will run for five years, from 2017 to 2021.
The agreement was reached with Tennis Australia, the national governing body that operates the Melbourne-based event.
ESPN International will continue to have exclusive pay television and digital distribution rights throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Beginning in 2017, ESPN will have distribution rights to several lead-up events to the Australian Open, including the Hopman Cup, World Tennis Challenge, Brisbane International and Apia International. ESPN will also have the right to show coverage of the Australian Open qualifiers as well as legends, junior and wheelchair events.
ESPN International will broadcast more than 130 hours of live television coverage of the 2016 Australian Open, which will begin this Monday.
ESPN has shown the Australian Open in Latin America since 1998, and will broadcast all four grand slams across the region this year.