Sky could launch Sky Sports Tennis in the UK and Ireland from 2024 if it is successful in its bid to acquire ATP/WTA tennis broadcast rights, following Amazon’s decision to drop coverage.
Amazon made its live sports streaming debut in the UK with tennis coverage in 2018, acquiring the rights to the US Open and ATP/WTA Tours. After losing the rights to the US Open to Sky from next year, The Times reports that Amazon won’t bid for future rights. Its current deal to screen ATP/WTA coverage runs out at the end of 2023.
As a result, Sky is reportedly eager to increase its tennis coverage. The acquisition of ATP/WTA rights would give the broadcaster sufficient tennis coverage to justify its own sports channel, just like cricket and golf.
Sky Sports already offers a dedicated tennis channel in Austria, Germany and Italy. However, it’s not a done deal: The Telegraph reports that Apple TV could also bid for the rights, which would see yet another broadcaster muscling on the sports pay TV sector.
Amazon wants to focus its resources on football, having secured a selection of Premier League and Champions League rights for the UK. The online retailer cum streaming company is now one of four major contenders for UK sports rights, joining Sky, BT Sport/Eurosport UK and now Viaplay.