Mumbai: Tennis Australia has announced that Sony Pictures Networks India will continue to have the Australian Open's exclusive broadcast rights starting in 2023. The broadcaster will now have exclusive TV and internet rights for the international athletic event throughout the Indian subcontinent, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
The Grand Slam will continue to be broadcast on SPN's sports channels and streamed live on SonyLIV.
The Australian Open will begin airing on 16 January, 2023, and the Adelaide International will begin airing on 9 January, 2023 on Sony Sports Network.
The Australian Open, one of the most prestigious international sporting occasions, is renowned for establishing the background for the tennis season. The elite competition's 110-year history has seen luminaries break records and the ascent of the legendary Rod Laver.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer of distribution & international business and head of sports cluster Rajesh Kaul said, "The Australian Open has consistently been the most watched tennis Grand Slam in India over the past few years. During 2022, close to 23 million viewers watched the live coverage of the event on Sony Sports Network. We hope to repeat this success as well as continue to build the steadily growing tennis fanbase in India. With this broadcast rights renewal, we will become the home for major Grand Slams in India including Roland Garros and the US Open."
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said, "Sony Pictures Networks India has been the home of the Australian Open in India for the past nine years, and this renewal will solidify its position. India has long been a key market for us, and over the years, the tournament has seen steady growth in viewership there. Sony Sports Network has played a huge role in driving this growth, and we hope to build on this success in the coming years."
For nine years, Sony Sports Network has served as the tournament's official broadcaster in India. The broadcaster will launch in 2023 with the coverage of the Australian Open and Adelaide International tournaments after successfully establishing itself as the home for tennis in India through the broadcast of multiple Grand Slams in 2022.
In the first Grand Slam of the year, Novak Djokovic will compete against players like Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, and Carlos Alcaraz in an attempt to capture his tenth Australian Open championship. Iga Swiatek, a fan favourite, is in the lead for the women's title, followed by Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and Ons Jabeur.
