Sports media group PERFORM has inked a four year media rights deal in partnership with IEC in Sports that will see Woman’s Tennis Association (WTA) Premier events broadcast across MCS TV Group channels, increasing the sports’ exposure both on-air and online.
The four year deal, which covers all platforms, starts at the Brisbane International on the 2nd January 2013 and will include access to 22 WTA Premier tournaments every year, concluding with the season finale TEB-BNP Paribas WTA Championships in Istanbul.
PERFORM and IEC in Sports, who partnered to acquire and market the WTA’s Premier events in December 2011, plan to double the number of current live matches produced.
PERFORM will also provide extensive coverage of the WTA on all its digital platforms.
Stacey Allaster, Chairman and chief executive officer of the WTA commented: “This is a very significant deal and marks an exciting evolution in the distribution and exposure of women’s tennis. Our ambition alongside that of PERFORM and IEC in Sports is to ensure we reach as many fans of women’s tennis around the world, and this deal is the first of many that will see us fulfill this goal.”
Simon Denyer, PERFORM’s joint-chief executive officer added: “The WTA is a fantastic sports right property which recognises that fans are now consuming sport differently. Our expertise in digital rights combined with IEC in Sports expertise in broadcast distribution is really starting to pay off, as you will see with a number of additional announcements over the coming months.”