IMG has extended its agreement to broadcast the Australian Open on Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra, through to 2027. The agreement will see Sport 24 continue to bring more than 150 hours of live action from the tennis tournament, held at Melbourne Park in Australia, to airlines and cruise ships around the world.
As part of the renewal contract, the IMG-owned and operated channels will also broadcast original programming related to the Australian Open throughout the year. Sport 24 has been broadcasting action from the Australian Open events to international passengers since 2012.
Cedric Cornelis, chief commercial officer of Tennis Australia, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Sport 24, a long-term valued broadcast partner of the Australian Open. This extension means Tennis Australia will continue our commitment to making Australian Open matches and original content accessible to fans whether they’re 30,000ft in the sky or in the middle of the ocean.”
The Sport 24 live sports channel is available on board customer airlines and cruise ships around the world. It can be viewed on 612 aircraft and 127 cruise ships, on operators including Etihad Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Carnival Group, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian Cruise Line, Fred Olsen, and more.
Richard Wise, SVP for content and channels at IMG added: “Sport 24 has been bringing passengers live coverage of the world-renowned Australian Open for over 12 years, and we’re delighted to extend our relationship. As audiences around the world gear up for more thrilling finals this weekend, Sport 24 will be showcasing all the biggest moments across airlines and cruise ships worldwide, so you don’t need to miss a minute of the action.”
Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra are produced from IMG’s production HQ at Stockley Park, near London’s Heathrow Airport. Sport 24 also shows live action from the Premier League, FIA Formula One World Championship, NBA, golf majors, tennis grand slams, cricket tournaments and more.
