News - Sources Say ESPN Acquires U.S. Open Rights

Links (2)

Truly the Grand Slam network?
Published 4/28/2008 by Paulsen at Sports Media Watch
... -- it only seemed to make sense the highest rated tennis tournament would move to ESPN. TennisWeek reports ESPN will begin televising the U.S. Open in 2009. Neither ESPN nor the USTA confirmed this to TennisWeek , and an ESPN spokesman told the magazine " [w]e have said for months we're talking to the USTA about the U.S. Open but there is no update ." Gaining the U.S. Open would be a major coup for ESPN, which would hold the rights to all four Grand Slams at once. The network recently signed an extension with the All England Club to televise Wimbledon through 2013, and has ...

ESPN eyeing U.S. Open
Published 4/28/2008 by Howard Burns at SPORTS COUCH POTATO
... Already cable home — in some cases partnering with the Tennis Channel — for the U.S. Open series leading up to the Aug. 25-Sept. 7 tournament in New York as well as Grand Slam events the Australian and French opens and Wimbledon, ESPN told Tennis Week it was in discussions with the United States Tennis Association about acquiring the U.S. Open contract. Tennis Week is reporting the deal is already done. CBS has the broadcast rights. ...