Sky Sports extends US Open rights to 2030 after rise in female viewers
Sky Sports has agreed a three-year extension to its live coverage of the US Open that will keep the tournament on Sky until 2030, a deal set to be announced as the singles at Flushing Meadows begin next week. Under the new terms Sky will broadcast more than 12 hours of live tennis each day across the three-week tournament, including the new mixed doubles event which is taking place this week.
Sky secured exclusive live UK rights to the US Open in 2023 when it won a five-year contract to replace Amazon Prime, having previously walked away from tennis in 2017 which allowed Amazon to pick up both the US Open and combined ATP/WTA tour rights. The interest generated by Emma Raducanu’s 2021 win played a big role in persuading Sky to bid for the rights. Raducanu, now the world No 68, has not featured much on Sky’s coverage as she has struggled with injuries and poor form and will miss this year’s US Open due to a stress fracture in her shin sustained in the buildup to Wimbledon.
In 2024 Sky agreed a five-year deal for exclusive UK rights to both the ATP and WTA tours, a contract due to run until 2028. The Guardian has learned that Sky wants to extend that partnership, with talks over a new deal currently taking place. In addition to the large volume of content across 11 months of the year provided by tennis, Sky values the sport as it is very popular with women and delivers a disproportionately high female audience.
Sky’s tennis viewership in 2025 was around 60% female, almost double the 31% figure for its overall coverage, and is therefore extremely useful in attracting new advertisers and different brands. While Wimbledon will remain on the BBC for the foreseeable future after the corporation extended its contract until 2033 this summer, other Grand Slam rights are held by different broadcasters. TNT Sports holds the rights for both the Australian and French Open.
The three-year US Open extension is due to be announced as the singles at Flushing Meadows begin next week. Sky was contacted for comment.