Sony Pictures Network gains ATP tennis TV rights


Details

Rebecca Hawkes

| 20 November 2015




India’s Sony Pictures Network has acquired the televsion rights for the men’s professional tennis circuit, the ATP World Tour.



The broadcaster, until recently known as Multi Screen Media (MSM), will show live action from ATP’s premium tier events, the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events and the ATP World Tour 500 events, alongside the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The pay-TV network already has exclusive rights to air the Australian Open and the Champions Tennis League in India.

“Sports in India have a strong cultural significance and a way of unifying viewership across audiences. Tennis is a high-consumption sport and the ATP reflects the best of men’s tennis globally. Our association with ATP is a strategic step in the direction of firmly establishing our commitment to tennis which is recognised as one of the most followed sports in the world,” said NP Singh, CEO, Sony Pictures Network (SPN).

Prasana Krishnan, business head of the SPN channels Sony Six and Kix, added: “Our fans can now look forward to the world's top ranked players in men's professional tennis. This is a valued addition to our line-up of major tennis events on our network”.

The ATP tournaments determine player rankings as well as the seeding for the Grand Slam tournaments.

“We are certain that MSM will provide the passion and superb production values required to showcase the finest male tennis players competing at the world’s most exciting venues,” said Mark Webster, CEO, ATP Media.