ESPN Int'l reached a five-year extension of its agreement with Tennis Australia for exclusive distribution rights in Latin America and the Caribbean of the Australian Open, the tennis season's first Grand Slam event. The agreement extends ESPN's current distribution agreement through '21. Under terms of the extension, ESPN will continue to have exclusive pay-TV and digital distribution rights throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, beginning in '17, ESPN will have the distribution rights to several lead-up events to the Australian Open, including the Hopman Cup, World Tennis Challenge, Brisbane Int'l and Apia Int'l. Also, ESPN will have the rights to select coverage of the Australian Open qualifiers, "Legends," juniors and wheelchair events. For the '16 Australian Open, taking place from Jan. 18-31, ESPN's networks in Latin America and the Caribbean will present more than 130 live hours of coverage from start to finish, including the Men & Women's final. In addition, ESPN will stream approximately 1,400 hours of live televised court coverage on ESPN Play in Spanish-speaking Latin America and the Caribbean, and on WatchESPN in Brazil (ESPN).
