Digital sports media company Perform has struck a long-term media rights and production deal with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) that has been hailed by the tour operator as the largest such agreement in the history of women’s sport.
The deal is worth $525m (€420m) over 10 years, from 2017 to 2026.
Under the new agreement – which expands on an existing four-year arrangement between the two parties, from 2013 to 2016 – a new joint venture called WTA Media will be established. The venture will produce all main-draw singles matches and the semi-finals and finals of all doubles matches for delivery across linear, digital and over-the-top platforms. WTA Media will also produce news content and magazine programming.
“Our new broadcast strategy to produce all 2,000 main draw singles matches in partnership with Perform will deliver exponential global exposure for our players, tournaments and partners,” WTA chairman and chief executive Stacey Allaster said. "Perform’s unprecedented investment in the WTA signals a new era – not only for women’s tennis but also for women’s professional sports the world around."
Simon Denyer, Perform’s joint chief executive, added: “This is a groundbreaking and innovative partnership with the WTA and is also a major first step in a significant 10-year growth plan for Perform.”