TNT Agrees to Massive New Deal to Broadcast French Open, per Report

A general view of Court Philippe-Chatrier for the Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Jannik Sinner of Italy match. / Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

The French Open will have a new television partner beginning in 2025.

The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported Friday that Warner Bros. Discovery—the home of TNT Sports— have agreed to a 10-year deal worth $650 million to televise the French Open in the United States. The deal starts in 2025 and runs through ’34.

NBC has broadcast the French Open in the United States every year since 1975, aside from 1980 to ’82 when CBS aired the event.

TNT Sports is best known for its NBA coverage, although the future of that partnership is in jeopardy as the league searches for a new television rights contract after the 2024-25 season. Multiple reports in recent months indicate the NBA is preparing to leave TNT behind as ESPN, NBC and Amazon will become its new broadcast partners.

Tennis isn’t the only sport Warner Bros. Discovery has splurged on outside of basketball in recent weeks. Last month, ESPN agreed to sublicense coverage of select College Football Playoff games to TNT for the next five years.

While the future of TNT’s beloved Inside the NBA show featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal hangs in the balance, the network is set to head to the clay courts next spring.

Published Jun 7, 2024

TOM DIERBERGER

Tom is a writer and editor for the Breaking & Trending News Team at Sports Illustrated. In the industry since 2016, Tom joined Sports Illustrated in 2023 after working with FOX Sports, Bally Sports, and NBC Sports. Off the clock, Tom can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.