Relationships had soured, but slowly peace is finally returning: everything will change with the Us Open.
No one, until last year, had ever seen a Grand Slam tournament free-to-air on the small screen. Instead, the 2023 edition of the Us Open, as you may recall, had been broadcast in full by SuperTennis, which had secured the rights to the New York major. Fans, therefore, had been able to enjoy the show – and what a show – for free, after years of viewing limited to pay TV.
It had been, that, a historic moment. Too bad only that, a few months later, trouble began for the Fitp channel. The broadcaster and Sky, which had long held the rights to several major circuit tournaments, had always been on good terms, to the point of “exchanging” the rights to 250 and 500. It was a partnership that worked and seemed destined to last for a long time, but that was not the case. At some point, indeed, relations soured.
At the negotiating table, so it was said, big words had flown, because pay TV had demanded a very large sum in exchange for the sublicensing of some Atp and Wta tournaments. From that moment on, SuperTennis’ schedule was tangibly affected. The channel could do nothing but broadcast some Challenger tournaments and padel matches. But now, thankfully, the worst seems to be finally behind us.
SuperTennis deal: Us Open as a bargaining chip
A tweet a few days ago had already raised hopes among tennis fans, especially those who do not have a Sky subscription. Claudio Piazzotta, always well-informed when Fitp is involved, had written that pay TV and the Federation channel had finally reached an agreement.
The news is not yet official, but it would appear, indeed, that the parties have made peace. A first clue to support this thesis already comes from the SuperTennis commercials, which in announcing the Us Open speak of free-to-air exclusivity and no longer of absolute exclusivity. This would suggest that Fitp has used the Us Open, which would eventually be simulcast, as a bargaining chip to get in return, from Sky, something to replenish the schedule and make it more appealing.
It would obtain, specifically, the rights to broadcast Wta tournaments (which Sky has had exclusive rights to since last January), as well as the archive of Atp reruns. A first step, in short, toward normality. All that remains is to wait, at this point, for the eventual officiality from those directly involved, with good peace to the fans of Berrettini and Sinner who will be able, in this way, to enjoy some old matches of their favorite champions.