BT Sport acquires first men’s tennis rights
May 29, 2014
BT Sport has acquired the TV rights to pre-Wimbledon tournaments including Queen’s, marking the first time the pay-TV channel has aired men’s tennis.
BT Sport will share live coverage of the pre-Wimbledon event with the BBC in a deal struck with the Lawn Tennis Association. BT Sport is effectively replacing Eurosport, which previously covered Queen’s alongside the BBC.
BT Sport will also air exclusive coverage of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Aegon Classic event, which takes place at the Edgbaston Priory Club, Birmingham, next month. Additionally, BT Sport will also share live coverage with the BBC of the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Aegon International at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne.
Before the new deal, BT Sport only aired women’s professional tennis with the rights to broadcast up to 800 hours a year.