PARIS/WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)
On Tuesday, TNT Sports reached an expansive agreement with the French Tennis Federation (FFT) to become the new home of Roland-Garros in the United States beginning in 2025.
The landmark 10-year U.S. deal elevates Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company for TNT Sports, to become the largest global broadcast partner to Roland Garros.
The new broadcast deal, reportedly for $65 million (U.S. Dollars) per year and facilitated by IMG – the FFT’s exclusive media rights representative in the U.S. – means a big raise for the French Tennis Federation. It coincides with its existing Eurosport coverage of the clay-court major in Europe, which began in 1989 and distributes the event to 55 countries outside the United States.
CARLOS ALCARAZ WINS ROLAND-GARROS AND MAKES HISTORY! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/vm2BkIVype
— Eurosport (@eurosport) June 9, 2024
It also means an end of an era for NBC Sports as the long-standing linear TV broadcaster of Roland-Garros in the United States as well, as well as NBC streaming service Peacock and Tennis Channel.
Beginning next year, U.S. viewers of Roland-Garros can watch on TNT, TBS and truTV as part of the 10-year, $650 million deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. It will also air on the Max (formerly HBO) streaming service and Bleacher Report digital platforms.
TNT Sports will exclusively present all live tennis action in the U.S. including:
• Featured live matches on TNT, with additional live coverage across TBS and truTV;
• truTV will provide all-day studio, match and whip-around coverage;
• All live matches will be available on Max – nearly 900 matches across all competitions – including simulcasts of matches airing on TNT, TBS and truTV;
• In-depth highlights, behind-the-scenes and ancillary content airing across all platforms (TNT, TBS, truTV, Max, Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and HighlightHER).
The of #RolandGarros 2024 pic.twitter.com/iZ4dYLQZEH
— Eurosport (@eurosport) June 11, 2024
In a statement announcing the deal, TNT Sports Chairman and CEO Luis Silberwasser said: “TNT Sports is thrilled to partner with the French Tennis Federation and exclusively present unprecedented coverage of Roland-Garros – one of the most prestigious sports events every year – across our full array of platforms.
“Roland-Garros perfectly aligns with our global sports strategy and our commitment to adding premium live sports content to our TNT Sports portfolio. We look forward to serving fans with a best-in-class content experience and providing them with direct access to more live Roland-Garros coverage than ever before.”
Gilles Moretton, President of the FFT, said in a statement: “We’re very proud to sign this agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, one of the world’s leading media groups. It will enable the Federation to ensure maximum exposure for Roland-Garros in the USA and help further promote the tournament. With this long-term agreement, we aim to win over new fans in this key territory for the FFT.”
TNT Sports plans to have an on-site presence, including studio and announcing teams from multiple positions inside Stade Roland-Garros throughout the Parisian fortnight. Additional details on TNT Sports‘ 2025 Roland-Garros coverage in the U.S. will be announced in the lead-up to the event, which is scheduled to run from May 25 to June 8, 2025.
