French public-service broadcaster France Télévisions has acquired rights for the men’s Davis Cup and women’s Fed Cup national team tennis tournaments.
The sublicensing deal with pay-television broadcaster beIN Sports was approved by the International Tennis Federation, according to French newspaper L’Équipe.
The deal will run for four years, from 2016 to 2019. BeIN Sports has a rights deal for the tennis tournaments through to 2021.
BeIN Sports was obliged to find a free-to-air rights partner as the Davis Cup final and semi-final must be available on free-to-air television under French law.
France Télévisions will show matches on Saturdays and Sundays, with beIN Sports retaining exclusive rights for singles matches on Fridays. However, talks are taking place to expand the partnership to include Friday matches as well. BeIN Sports will show all of the action from both tournaments.