The Tennis Channel lands French Open cable rights

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) and The Tennis Channel announced a multi-year
agreement that gives Tennis Channel exclusive U.S. non-broadcast network rights
to Roland Garros commonly known as the
French Open. It is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. They have telecast
coverage rights for the first time beginning in 2007.

This is a great day for all American tennis fans, the game of tennis, and
everyone who loves one of the most internationally revered, time-honored
sporting events, said Christian Bimes President of FFT.

The Tennis Channel will produce all Roland Garros matches including
singles, doubles, mixed doubles, juniors and seniors (with the exception of
established NBC coverage windows). In addition to the live event coverage of
the men s and women s competition, the network plans to organize highlights,
press conferences and news updates from the tournament.

The Tennis Channel has leeway in all media, including exclusive broadband and
video-on-demand (VOD) rights to the tournament. This includes access to Roland
Garros media archives including classic matches from past tournaments.

We re going to make you feel what it s like to be there, to take in the
experience that the event encompasses: the history, the lifestyle, the travel,
Paris all of it, said Ken Solomon, chairman and CEO, The Tennis Channel. For
The Tennis Channel this is our Super Bowl, our Olympics, and we have the
ability to tell the personal stories of these players on their epic journeys that
lead to Paris
each year.

The network presents the opportunity to bring Roland
Garros to U.S.
audiences in a way that hasn t been done before, with focus and storytelling to
goes farther than traditional match coverage. Bimes added.