NBA's future with TNT is uncertain. However, the company now has tennis.
Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's parent company, declared a massive 10-year partnership on Tuesday, making them the brand new US residence for the famous French Open tennis tournament from 2025 onwards. This deal emphasizes how live sports still keep cable networks afloat in the current era of cord-cutting.
What this "massive overhaul" involves is that all close to 900 matches will be live streamed on Max streaming platform, while there will be highlighted matches on TNT and TBS. A fresh wrap-around show is also in the works for truTV. YouTube's Bleacher Report and House of Highlights will turn into digital hubs for this esteemed two-week tournament which takes place annually in late May.
Variety was the first to release this information on Friday.
As per a statement from Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO, TNT Sports, "Roland-Garros completely aligns with our global sports strategy and our determination to enrich our TNT Sports portfolio with exceptional live sports content."
Financial specifics are not yet out in the open, but a source close to the deal confirmed a whopping $650 million price tag to CNN, which was also reported first by The Athletic.
WBD has had an earlier association with Roland-Garros, as they have been broadcasting the tennis event across Europe on Eurosport since 1989. With this deal, WBD stands as the "biggest global broadcast partner" for Roland-Garros.
NBC has been airing the French Open since 1983, but the brand's limited coverage of games has sparked discontent among dedicated fans. Since 2006, The Tennis Channel has been broadcasting more games, with NBC retaining a part of the broadcast rights.
TNT Sports has shared that it will establish a physical presence in Paris, including on-site announcers and multiple positions within Roland-Garros. The announcers and studio hosts will be unveiled later.
Tennis's status and ratings have been on the rise in the previous years, which could benefit WBD's sports roster. The NBA has been a staple on TNT for 35 years, but the channel has been moving into other sports like the NHL, MLB, the majority of March Madness men’s basketball tournaments, and college football. Lastly, truTV is now mostly into airing sports during primetime hours.
WBD's deal with the NBA ends with the ongoing season. But there's no confirmation if they'll renew it. Reports suggest that NBC and Amazon have exceeded WBD's bid, as noted by the Wall Street Journal. We can expect an announcement soon on which networks or platforms will acquire the NBA rights, including a likely continuation of the ESPN deal.
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Warner Bros. Discovery, with its acquisition of CNN, is expanding its sports offerings beyond basketball. The company will now broadcast live tennis matches, including the French Open, on its Max streaming platform and select matches on TNT and TBS.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding the NBA's future with TNT, Warner Bros. Discovery's significant investment in tennis could signal a shift in their sports strategy.
