Australian Open tournament directors said that the '17 event "will be more accessible for tennis fans in Asia and the Pacific than ever before," according to Matt Goss of XINHUA. Tennis Australia will "promote the tournament by hosting major event launches for the Grand Slam tournament," the first of the calendar year, in China, Singapore and Japan. TA ticket websites will now be published in Mandarin and Japanese and broadcast deals will be "expanded into Asia, via radio and television." China will "show the Open on CCTV, Shanghai TV and Iqiyi." Tournament Dir Craig Tiley said, "This is a long-term strategy to invest in the growth of the sport and our events in the region and we are always seeking new promotional opportunities." A number of initiatives are "aimed at harnessing the Asian market including the most extensive broadcast deals in the region in the event's history and multi-language websites allowing Chinese and Japanese tennis fans to access tickets more easily." Tiley: "Our broadcast reach in the region continues to expand, with China and Japan among our biggest markets, and ongoing negotiations with a number of broadcasters. We are the most relatable of the Grand Slam events in this region. The time zone works for attracting viewers on television, and Australia is not that far away" (XINHUA, 10/10).
