ITV extend French Open to 2018
ITV have extended their free-to-air coverage of the French Open tennis through to 2018 in a new deal announced today.
ITV will continue to broadcast comprehensive coverage each year of the grand slam event, with a guaranteed minimum of 90 hours devoted to each tournament across its main channel and ITV4. The action will also be available on the ITV Player.
“We’re delighted to able to continue our association with this fantastic Grand Slam tournament and to bring, free to air to viewers, full coverage of a fortnight of elite level tennis from Paris for the next four years.” – Niall Sloane, ITV’s Director of Sport
John Inverdale has lead ITV’s coverage, since they gained rights in 2012. Commentary and pundits include Nick Mullins, Mark Petchey, Fabrice Santoro, Jim Courier and Sam Smith.
This year also has included Wimbledon Ladies Champion Marion Bartoli, whom Inverdale got into trouble for on air comments about at Wimbledon last year for the BBC.
Eurosport currently show action from courts outwith what ITV4 & ITV show. It’s unclear if this will continue. Suggestions suggest it will.
Andy Murray plays his Semi Final today against Rafa Nadal and ITV have moved coverage onto their main channel from 3pm.
