Sky is poised to revolutionise the experience for NOW TV and Sky Sports subscribers with the introduction of Sky Sports Tennis on February 11th. Offering an extensive roster of over 4,000 live matches from 80 tournaments on both the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as comprehensive coverage of the US Open, this channel is set to become the ultimate destination for tennis enthusiasts in the UK.
The establishment of Sky Sports Tennis follows Sky’s acquisition of the broadcast rights for the US Open, ATP Tour, and WTA Tour in the previous year, establishing itself as the exclusive broadcaster for these prestigious events and leaving Prime Video subscribers without access.
Amazon’s Prime Video has historically been the preferred platform for live coverage of the ATP and WTA tours, providing subscribers with the ability to stream live tournament coverage at no additional cost. However, with Sky Sports Tennis obtaining the rights, Prime Video subscribers must now incur additional charges to access live tennis matches.
Sky’s bold move to obtain the broadcast rights for tennis represents a significant loss for Prime Video subscribers. Nevertheless, Prime Video retains the rights to other major sports, including football’s Champions League and rugby union’s Autumn Nations Series, along with a diverse selection of sports documentaries such as the popular “All Or Nothing” series.
Current Complete, Action, and Arena package subscribers with Sky Sports will automatically gain access to the new Sky Sports Tennis channel on February 11th, 2024. Furthermore, NOW TV subscribers will also enjoy access to the channel at no additional cost. However, to access live coverage in 1080p HD at 50 frames per second, a NOW Boost add-on will be required.
The launch of Sky Sports Tennis promises an exceptional viewing experience, with the initial week featuring live matches from the Hologic WTA Tour tournament in Doha, followed by the ATP Tour from Rotterdam. Jonathan Licht, the Managing Director of Sky Sports, has expressed his enthusiasm for the new channel, highlighting the added value it will bring to Sky Sports customers and the unparalleled access it will offer to the world’s best players throughout the year.
For those eager to view the action, the channel will first be available on Sky Sports channel 408 from February 11th before transitioning exclusively to channel 407 on February 13th.
The competition for sports coverage among subscription services is continuing to escalate, with recent developments including Apple’s acquisition of Major League Soccer (MLS) rights for Apple TV+ subscribers and Netflix securing exclusive rights to WWE’s Monday Night Raw in the US.
While the launch of Sky Sports Tennis brings much excitement to subscribers, it also signifies the end of an era for Prime Video viewers who have previously enjoyed live tennis coverage as part of their subscription. As the battle for sports rights continues to unfold, it is evident that the landscape of sports broadcasting is rapidly evolving.