ESPN Seals 12-Year USTA Deal

ESPN is set to remain the exclusive rights holder of the US Open in the U.S. via a new 12-year deal with the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

The deal keeps the marquee event with the sports broadcaster through 2037. The pact, which begins in 2026, also delivers US Open coverage to Latin America and the Caribbean, and in Canada on TSN and RDS. ESPN Deportes remains as the exclusive Spanish-language home of the US Open in the U.S. With the deal, USTA will take over host broadcaster duties from ESPN beginning in 2026, with the sports platform focusing its production resources on 260-plus hours of annual coverage planned for the U.S., as well as hundreds of hours for international territories.

The agreement was brokered by IMG, which represents USTA’s media rights.

“We take tremendous pride in our 15-year relationship with the USTA,” said Jimmy Pitaro, ESPN chairman. “This agreement reinforces our long-term dedication to tennis, our capacity to showcase one of the premier events on the annual sports calendar and, as the world’s first sporting event to offer equal purses for its female and male competitors, The Walt Disney Company’s industry-leading commitment to women’s sports.”

“After many remarkable years of partnership, we are thrilled to extend our partnership with ESPN and the Walt Disney Company, a collaboration that has driven extraordinary growth for the US Open,” said Lew Sherr, USTA CEO and executive director. “This year’s US Open is well on its way to being the most spectacular Championship in our history, and, together with ESPN, we are energized by an even brighter future. Our shared commitment to expanding the reach of tennis has contributed to significant increase in participation. Together, we will continue to leverage the US Open as a powerful platform to promote our mission to inspire healthier people and communities.”

“This ESPN deal is groundbreaking, not only for the USTA and US Open, but for tennis globally,” said Hillary Mandel, executive VP and head of Americas, media at IMG. “The new agreement will super-charge this iconic, captivating Grand Slam’s exposure, production, promotion, content and economic investment, ensuring record year-on-year growth for the next decade and beyond.”