Sports broadcaster Eurosport is set to become the home of nearly all top men’s tennis rights in France, according to newspaper L’Équipe.
Eurosport is close to a five-year deal for ATP rights, from 2019 to 2023. The deal would include rights to all Masters 1000 series as well as 12 ATP 500 and 250 events each year. The agreement would also include rights to both domestic ATP events: the Paris Masters and the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports currently holds rights in France to ATP 1000 and 500 events in a four-year deal, from 2015 to 2018. The ATP is advised on the sale of its media rights by the IMG agency.
This beIN deal excludes rights to the Paris Masters and the Monte-Carlo Masters: rights to these events over the same four years are held by pay-television broadcaster Canal Plus. Rights to both events were sold directly by the tournament organisers.
The new ATP deal means Eurosport has a very strong position in tennis. It holds rights in France to the Australian Open, the US Open and the French Open (via a sublicensing agreement with public-service broadcaster France Télévisions).
By contrast, beIN holds rights in France to Wimbledon, the WTA Tour and all International Tennis Federation events.