WTA and Perform Announce ‘Game-Changing’ New Deal

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has agreed a major 10-year media agreement with digital sports media company Perform worth over $525m.

This partnership represents the biggest live media rights and production deal in the WTA’s history and in women’s sports.

For the first time the aggregation and centralisation of all WTA tournament media rights will deliver every WTA event across linear, digital and over-the-top (OTT) offerings.

“This is a game-changing and historic moment for our fans and for women’s sport,” WTA Chairman & CEO Stacey Allaster said.

“Our new broadcast strategy to produce all 2000 main draw singles matches in partnership with PERFORM will deliver exponential global exposure for our players, tournaments and partners.”

The agreement will see the introduction of WTA Media, a joint endeavour between both organizations that will deliver premium content to tennis fans worldwide.

WTA Media, together with tournaments, will produce all main draw singles matches and the semifinals and finals of all doubles matches from 2017.

Additionally WTA Media will also deliver additional magazine shows and significant off-court content to support the WTA’s mobile, digital and social media strategy.

“We are thrilled to expand on our highly successful partnership with the WTA,” PERFORM’s joint CEO, Simon Denyer, said.

“We are strong believers in the exceptional sport entertainment value of the WTA and are committed to driving the value for all WTA members and partners.

“This deal also delivers maximum exposure to the WTA’s global fans on multiple platforms. This is a groundbreaking and innovative partnership with the WTA and is also a major first step in a significant 10-year growth plan for PERFORM.”

“The remarkable growth by PERFORM in less than 10 years, as well as the company’s ambitious direction, provides a perfect framework for our invaluable partnership,” Allaster concluded.

“We are extremely excited by a shared vision of delivering the quality and quantity content our fans deserve.

“PERFORM’s unprecedented investment in the WTA signals a new era – not only for women’s tennis but also for women’s professional sports the world around.”

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