TSN has "secured the rights to nine of this year's biggest WTA tournaments, including the Miami Open, the China Open and the Qatar Total Open," as well as the "triumphant return" of Bianca Andreescu to Indian Wells next month, according to Simon Houpt of the GLOBE & MAIL. DAZN previously had the exclusive rights to the WTA tournaments, and its appearance on the scene meant fans "couldn't tune in to TSN or Sportsnet whenever a women's tennis tournament was on." DAZN will "continue to stream those tournaments on its own platforms, though no longer on an exclusive basis," which is a "sharp comedown for a company whose business model is based on securing exclusive rights to sports events and making viewers pay for them." As Andreescu shot up the rankings last year, the tennis powers-that-be in Canada and at the WTA "began to chafe at the situation" with DAZN. For the "first time in recent memory -- or, perhaps ever -- one of the biggest tennis stars in the world was from Canada." Tennis Canada President & CEO Michael Downey "declined to comment on whether the WTA or Tennis Canada pushed DAZN to make nice and share its rights with TSN." For DAZN, which still is "trying to build awareness of its brand in Canada," it is "probably a smart strategy, even if it makes the company look weak." The NFL and EPL are "its big subscriptions drivers" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/21).
