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In India the event airs every August on Star Sports. The partnership
includes live coverage on select weekends of the proposed US Open
Series. This is a series of summer professional tennis events that
will lead into the final Grand Slam of the year. The Series is tentatively
scheduled to launch with select tournaments next year, with expansion
planned in 2005. Overall, the new deal provides for over 60 hours
of programming devoted to the US Open, other summer tournaments,
and special USTA programming each year.
The broad-reaching deal also includes increased on-air support
of the US Open and the sport of tennis, during the months leading
up to and including the US Open. The new deal includes 48 hours
of US Open television coverage each year, including six days of
coverage over two weekends; the continuation of the primetime Women's
Singles Final; a late-night highlights show. In addition there will
also be a telecast of Arthur Ashe Kids' Day; a US Open preview show
leading into the tournament; and four episodes of Topspin.
This is the USTA's youth-targeted tennis television program to
be aired on Saturdays during the summer months. As of now the US
Open's schedule remains similar to recent years. An official release
informs that last year USA Network signed a six-year agreement for
cable broadcast rights for the US Open, for weekday coverage of
the event. CBS' partnership with the US Open stretches for 35 years.
USTA professional tennis chief executive Arlen Kantarian added,
"We consider our CBS partnership to be one of the strongest in sports.
We continue to create innovative television concepts to grow the
game - - from the Women's Prime Time Final to the proposed US Open
Series. This new deal sets the stage for a consistent television
viewing platform for tennis throughout the summer. We look forward
to continuing our discussions with the WTA, the ATP and tournament
owners to now make this concept a reality."
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