TNT Sports has officially launched its coverage of the 2025 Roland Garros tournament, marking the beginning of a 10-year deal reportedly worth $650 million for the US broadcast rights. This marks a significant shift as the French Open moves from its long-time home on NBC to cable television for the first time in over four decades. With promises of innovative coverage and a commitment to bringing “energy and joy” back to tennis broadcasting, TNT Sports is aiming to elevate the viewing experience for fans in the US and the UK.
A Comprehensive Broadcast Strategy
Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), the parent company of TNT Sports, has positioned itself as the largest global broadcast partner of the clay-court Grand Slam. The strategy involves extensive coverage across multiple platforms, including TNT, truTV, and the streaming service Max.
- TNT: Serves as the primary channel for live matches, featuring key storylines and expert analysis from a team of esteemed tennis commentators.
- truTV: Offers a unique “whiparound” show called “The Rally at Roland-Garros,” reminiscent of the NFL’s Red Zone. This provides viewers with a dynamic mix of studio analysis and live match highlights, hopping between different courts to capture the most exciting moments.
- Max: Provides the most comprehensive streaming coverage, showcasing over 900 matches across all competitions, including men’s, women’s, legends, wheelchair, and junior tournaments. Max also offers a “Multiview” option, allowing viewers to watch up to four matches simultaneously.
In addition to live coverage, TNT Sports is producing original content for Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, offering fans on-site player interviews, behind-the-scenes access, and Roland-Garros-inspired editions of existing series.
Innovation in Tennis Broadcasting
TNT Sports is looking to modernize tennis broadcasting, incorporating new elements to enhance the viewing experience. Craig Barry, TNT Sports’ executive vice president and chief content officer, emphasized the network’s goal to bring “energy and joy” back to tennis coverage, which he feels has been lacking in recent decades.
Some of the key innovations include:
- Mic’d Up Players and Coaches: TNT Sports plans to mic up players during warm-ups and coaches in between sets, allowing for live interviews and conversations during the broadcast. This will provide viewers with unprecedented insights into the strategies and emotions of the players and coaches.
- In-Match Player Interviews: TNT Sports aims to conduct live interviews with players during matches, further immersing viewers in the competition.
- “Clayside Correspondents”: TNT Sports will feature mic’d-up celebrity “Clayside Correspondents” seated near the action, capturing their reactions and adding an element of entertainment to the broadcast.
- New Camera Angles: TNT is exploring new camera angles to provide viewers with a fresh perspective on the action.
These changes aim to bring a more intimate and engaging experience to tennis fans, mirroring the successful approaches used in other sports broadcasts.
A Collaborative Effort
WBD Sports is operating as “one production team with different outlets” for its Roland Garros coverage, ensuring consistency and quality across all platforms. TNT Sports has two studios at Roland-Garros to produce distinct shows for US and UK audiences.
Eurosport, also under the WBD umbrella, continues to broadcast the French Open across Europe. This collaboration allows for shared resources and expertise, resulting in a more comprehensive and technically advanced broadcast. According to Scott Young, group senior vice president of content, production and business operations at WBD Sports Europe, this will be “the most extraordinary coverage of a Grand Slam tennis event ever undertaken.”
Global Reach and Accessibility
The 2025 Roland Garros tournament is being broadcast by more than 170 television channels and digital platforms across 220 territories. This extensive reach ensures that fans around the world can follow the action from Paris.
In France, coverage is provided by France Télévisions and Prime Video, with France Télévisions offering exclusive coverage of the Opening Week and all day matches up to the quarterfinals. Prime Video features a selection of 11 night sessions, including two quarter-finals. The semi-finals and finals are co-broadcast by both networks.
In India, Sony Sports Network has renewed its exclusive broadcast partnership with Roland Garros for three more seasons, providing uninterrupted live coverage on its sports channels and SonyLIV.
Early Reception and Expectations
While it’s still early in the tournament, initial reactions to TNT Sports’ coverage have been positive, with many praising the network’s commitment to innovation and its comprehensive approach to broadcasting.
Craig Barry has expressed his hope that TNT’s coverage will be “really well received” by tennis fans and that the tennis community will feel like the network has taken the coverage a step forward. While he has not specified viewership expectations, he emphasized the importance of delivering a high-quality broadcast that resonates with fans.
A 10-Year Commitment
TNT Sports’ 10-year deal with the French Tennis Federation signifies a long-term commitment to the sport. This provides the network with the opportunity to continue innovating and refining its coverage, building a loyal audience and solidifying its position as a leading broadcaster of tennis.
The move to TNT Sports marks a new chapter for the Roland Garros tournament in the US and the UK, with the promise of fresh perspectives, enhanced technology, and a renewed focus on the fan experience. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how these innovations are received and how they shape the future of tennis broadcasting.
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