Sony extends Australian Open rights across Indian subcontinent

Pay-television broadcaster Sony Pictures Networks India has agreed a three-year extension to its rights deal for tennis grand slam the Australian Open.

The new contract agreed with Tennis Australia will run from 2020 to 2022, covering exclusive television and digital rights across the Indian subcontinent. SPN is to offer over 200 hours of coverage from each edition of the grand slam tournament.

In January 2014, Sony secured exclusive broadcast rights for the Australian Open in India under a five-year deal spanning 2015 to 2019. The Australian Open agreement marked Sony’s first deal to broadcast one of tennis’ grand slams, with the broadcaster having previously shown selected tournaments from the men’s ATP Tour.

The new deal will also include coverage of lead-up events such as the Adelaide International ATP 250 tournament.

Sony will provide live coverage of the Australian Open in at least English and Hindi, with OTT platform SonyLiv to live stream action from all 16 match courts in Melbourne.