The four-year deal, beginning in 2008, covers all TV media rights (including satellite, cable and terrestrial), closed circuit, IN-flight and ship-at-sea.
Under terms of the agreement, IMG Media will distribute all Tier I and Tier II tournaments along with the season ending Sony Ericsson Championships in 2008, and the Tour’s 20 premier events plus the Sony Ericsson Championships in 2009 and 2010.
The Tour’s streamlined and shortened season featuring these 20 premier events, record prize money of $84 million and more consistent delivery of stars than ever before, will be launched in 2009. The premier events will be anchored by four mandatory, combined men/women equal prize money tournaments – the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, the China Open in Beijing and a major event in Madrid, Spain.
Michael Mellor, Head of IMG Media, Asia Pacific, said: “We are extremely excited about working with the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. Their plans for the future of the game will make this a compelling property for broadcasters for years to come. IMG Media’s impressive portfolio of tennis events in this region of the world means we are ideally placed to unlock the considerable potential the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour has to offer. We are already delighted with the response we have had with broadcasters with regard to the Tour, and expect to announce a number of key agreements very shortly.”
“Women’s tennis has never been a more powerful media property than today, and we are very pleased that IMG Media will be working with us in a number of key regions to grow our sport and expand our fan base,” said Larry Scott, CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. “Under our Roadmap plan, fans will be able to see their favourite stars and rivals more than ever, thanks to a streamlined calendar highlighted by 20 premier events.”
