ESPN relies on long-term approach: New multi-million deal for the US Open

The media home of the US Open remains unchanged: ESPN has extended its partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for another 12 years. The newly concluded contract has an annual value of $170 million, totaling an impressive $2.04 billion over the entire term, according to well-informed sources. The previous contract, which secured the broadcast of the Grand Slam tournament in New York City until the end of 2025, will now continue until 2037. The agreement includes not only linear TV broadcasts but also expanded streaming coverage. Additionally, the "Middle Sunday" and the men's final will remain on sister channel ABC. Additional highlights of the deal include expanded coverage during Fan Week, daily live broadcasts on ESPN2, and daily Spanish-language reports on ESPN Deportes. Fans will be able to watch every match on every court live. Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director of the USTA, expressed his enthusiasm: "After many remarkable years of partnership, we are thrilled to continue our collaboration with ESPN and the Walt Disney Company, a cooperation that has driven exceptional growth for the US Open. Our joint commitment to expanding the reach of tennis has led to a significant increase in participation. Together, we will continue to use the US Open as a strong platform to support our mission of promoting healthier people and communities." As always with contract extensions, ESPN focuses on both medium- and long-term goals. The company has been broadcasting the US Open since 2015 and views the tournament as a valuable investment: it attracts a high-income audience, combines fame and sport, and offers significant benefits in media hospitality. Should an American star player emerge between now and 2037, the investment is likely to pay off easily. Furthermore, the tournament now remains inaccessible to other streaming heavyweights.