NBC serves up French Open renewal

US network NBC has renewed its rights agreement with the Fédération Française de Tennis, the French tennis federation, for rights to the French Open, until 2024.

The renewal supersedes the existing deal, which was set to expire in 2013, and will extend NBC’s broadcast coverage the French Open to 42 consecutive years.

NBC will show live coverage from Roland Garros on the opening Sunday, the middle weekend, and the days of the men’s and women’s semi-finals and finals.

The renewal provides NBC with more live hours, some of which had previously been carried by the Tennis Channel, the pay-television broadcaster.

The Tennis Channel agreed a new deal for the French Open last autumn. The agreement expires in 2022.