Sky Sports Nears US Open Extension Amid Female Viewership Surge
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The broadcaster is set to extend its live coverage of the tournament through 2030, leveraging a tennis audience that is disproportionately female compared to its general viewership.
Sky Sports is nearing an agreement to extend its live coverage of the US Open through 2030, as first reported by The Guardian. The expected three-year contract extension will be announced as the singles draw begins next week at Flushing Meadows.
Under the proposed terms, Sky will provide more than 12 hours of daily live tennis throughout the three-week tournament, including the mixed-doubles event. Sky has held exclusive UK rights to the US Open since 2023, when it signed a five-year deal to replace Amazon Prime.
While Emma Raducanu’s 2021 victory originally drove Sky's interest in bidding for the rights, the broadcaster is now valuing the sport's ability to attract a specific demographic. The Guardian reports that Sky's tennis viewership in 2025 was approximately 60% female—nearly double the 31% female audience seen across its overall coverage. This demographic shift is viewed as a key asset for attracting new brands and advertisers.
Beyond the US Open, Sky secured a five-year deal for exclusive UK rights to the ATP and WTA tours in 2024, running through 2028. The Guardian reports that Sky is currently in talks to extend that partnership as well. This expansion occurs as other rights remain fragmented: the BBC has extended its Wimbledon contract until 2033, while TNT Sports maintains the rights for the French Open and Australian Open.