The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and BeIn Sports have partnered in what is being described as ‘the largest television and digital rights deal in the history of Davis Cup and Fed Cup.’
Starting this year, the landmark seven-year agreement sees the Qatari-owned media company become the official global media rights partner of the two international team tennis competitions.
As part of the deal BeIn Sports will produce and televise both competitions across its channels ‘in some parts of the world’ whilst working closely with the ITF and existing broadcasters.
According to a joint statement issued on Monday, the partnership ‘is designed to increase the global exposure and quality of Davis Cup and Fed Cup coverage across both linear and digital channels to the benefit of the millions of tennis fans around the world’.
“Just a few years ago, I went to the launch of BeIn Sports in Paris and I have been impressed with the tremendous growth of the company and the quality of their productions,” said ITF president Francesco Ricci Bitti.
“Our competitions are in good company with the other major sports federations and brands associated with BeIn Sports.”
Launched by Qatari Sports Investments (QSI) in 2012, the BeIn Sports family of channels currently spans the Middle East and North Africa, France, North America, and Asia-Pacific.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the chief executive of BeIn Media Group, said: “BeIn Sports is extremely proud to become a long term partner of the ITF. We believe that Davis Cup and Fed Cup are great occasions within the tennis calendar showcasing the best of the game in a unique national team environment.
“Tennis is a fundamental part of our international sports programming and we look forward to working with the ITF to grow these competitions across the world.”
The first round of this year’s Fed Cup, the ITF’s international team event for women, begins this weekend. The 2015 edition of the Davis Cup, the men’s equivalent, gets underway next month.
