List of Australian Open broadcasters
From 1973 to 2018, the Seven Network served as the host broadcaster of the Australian Open. In March 2018, it was announced that the Nine Network had acquired the rights to the tournament beginning in 2020, for a period of five years. The network later bought the rights for the 2019 tournament as well.[1] The Open's broadcast rights are lucrative in the country, as it occurs near the end of the Summer non-ratings season — which gives its broadcaster opportunities to promote their upcoming programming lineup.[2][3]
In Europe the tournament is broadcast on Eurosport. Other broadcasters in the region have included the BBC in the United Kingdom, SRG in Switzerland, NOS in Netherlands and RTS in Serbia. In the United Kingdom, the BBC dropped its live coverage of the 2016 tournament just a month before the start due to budget cuts, leaving Eurosport as the exclusive live broadcaster.
Elsewhere, beIN Sports broadcasts it into the Middle East and Northern Africa, and SuperSport in Sub-Sahara Africa. In the United States, the tournament is broadcast on ESPN2, ESPN3 and the Tennis Channel.[4] The championship matches are televised live on ESPN. While it is broadcast on ESPN International in Central and Latin America. It is broadcast on TSN in Canada.
In Asia-Pacific region, the tournament is broadcast on five television networks in China, including national broadcaster CCTV, provincial networks Beijing TV, Shanghai TV and Guangdong TV and English language Star Sports, as well as online on IQIYI Sports. Elsewhere in the region, it is broadcast in Japan by national broadcaster NHK, and pay-TV network WOWOW. In the Indian Sub-continent, Sony Six has broadcast since 2015 and, in the rest of Asia, it is broadcast on Fox Sports Asia through 2021.[5]
United States
Year | Network | Play-by-play | Color commentators |
2007 | ESPN | Dick Enberg | Patrick McEnroe (men only) and Mary Carillo |
2006 | ESPN | Dick Enberg | Brad Gilbert and Mary Carillo |
2005 | ESPN | Dick Enberg | Patrick McEnroe and Mary Carillo |
1996 | ESPN | Cliff Drysdale | Betsy Nagelsen |
1978 | Hughes | Bud Collins | Donald Dell |
Notes
- The 1978 tournament was a part of a series of "eight syndicated telecasts", produced by the independent Hughes Sports Network and sold a commercial stations on an individual market basis by Taft Broadcasting. Six more tournaments are scheduled on Hughes: the Italian and French Opens, Washington Star International, Canadian Open, U.S. Pro Championships and U.S. Open, all slotted for 6 to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 5 to 7 p.m. Sundays, Eastern time.
- ESPN/ESPN2 had exclusive coverage from 1984 - 2007. Beginning in 2008, ESPN2 shared the broadcast duties with Tennis Channel.
See also
References
- "Nine secures rights to the 2019 Australian Open tennis from Seven". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 June 2018.
- "Nine secures Australian Open from 2020". TV Tonight. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- "How do Australian TV networks get away with non-ratings period?". News.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- "2013 Australian Open TV Schedule on ESPN". sportsmediawatch.com.
- "Fox Sports Asia lands Australian Open rights until 2021". Retrieved 11 September 2018.