ESPN and USTA extend relationship with new 12-year contract

ESPN and USTA extend relationship with new 12-year contract

• ESPN remains the exclusive rights holder of the US Open in the USA until 2037
• ABC coverage of Middle Sunday and the final Sunday further
• Expanded ESPN streaming coverage to begin in 2026
• Expands exclusive rights in Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada via TSN and RDS

Watch the US Open throughout the tournament on ESPN +

As the main draw of the 2024 US Open is underway in New York City, ESPN and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) have extended their collaboration with a new 12-year agreement that will keep the legendary event on ESPN through 2037.

The deal, which takes effect in 2026 and is ESPN’s longest tennis contract, will also see ESPN continue to be the home broadcaster of the entire US Open in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Canada on TSN and RDS. ESPN Deportes will also remain the exclusive Spanish-language home broadcaster of the US Open in the United States.

The deal was brokered by IMG, the USTA’s media rights agent.

Under the new agreement, the USTA will assume ESPN’s host broadcaster duties beginning in 2026 as ESPN focuses its production resources on the more than 260 hours of planned annual coverage in the U.S., as well as hundreds of hours for international territories.

“We are incredibly proud of our 15-year relationship with the USTA,” said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. “This agreement underscores our long-term commitment to the sport of tennis, our ability to present one of the premier events in the annual sporting calendar and – as the world’s first sporting event to pay equal compensation to male and female competitors – The Walt Disney Company’s industry-leading commitment to women’s sports.”

“After many remarkable years of partnership, we are thrilled to extend our partnership with ESPN and The Walt Disney Company, a collaboration that has resulted in extraordinary growth for the US Open,” said Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director of the USTA. “This year’s US Open is on track to be the most spectacular championship in our history, and together with ESPN, we are energized for an even brighter future. Our shared commitment to expanding the reach of tennis has contributed to a significant increase in participation. Together, we will continue to use the US Open as a powerful platform to advance our mission of inspiring people and communities to play healthier sports.”

“This ESPN deal is a game-changer, not just for the USTA and the US Open, but for tennis worldwide,” said Hillary Mandel, EVP and Head of Americas, Media at IMG. “The new agreement will dramatically increase the exposure, production, advertising, content and economic investment of this legendary, captivating Grand Slam, ensuring record year-over-year growth for the next decade and beyond.”

Deal highlights

• Expanded streaming rights give ESPN the flexibility to offer fans in the U.S. additional ways to consume US Open content
• Expanded coverage of Fan Week, including daily live coverage on ESPN2 and distribution of the prime-time show events that premiered on ESPN platforms this year
• Introducing fast-paced shot-by-shot coverage that will debut on ESPN+ during the first week of the 2026 US Open main draw
• Annual coverage of the final Sunday and middle Sunday on ABC
• Daily availability of all games on all pitches
• Daily Spanish-language coverage in the US on ESPN Deportes
• Providing limited sublicensing rights to ESPN

Current audience numbers at the US Open

The US Open on ESPN has set – and held – some unforgettable viewership records, including:

• 2023
  • The women’s championship between winner Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka
  • The men’s and women’s semifinals on ESPN are the most watched since the current contract began in 2015
• 2022: Serena Williams’ final appearance remains the most-watched tennis broadcast in ESPN’s 44-year history with 4.8 million viewers, edging out the highest audience of 6.9 million viewers.
• 2015: The men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer averaged 3.2 million viewers, making it the most-watched event on ESPN of all time.