ServusTV Germany acquires exclusive rights to the MercedesCup and bett1open
ServusTV Germany has secured the exclusive free TV rights for two tennis classics with the MercedesCup in Stuttgart (ATP men's tour) and bett1open in Berlin (WTA women's tour).
by PM
last edit: Mar 17, 2021, 10:45 am
The license rights apply to all distribution channels (satellite, cable, IPTV, web and mobile) up to and including 2022. ServusTV broadcasts the games in the main field live. The start will be the MercedesCup from June 7th to 13th, 2021, and ServusTV will be showing the bett1open games from June 14th to 20th. "After the broadcast of Thiems7 and bett1ACES last year and the ATP Cup 2021, we are very happy, to present our viewers with the MercedesCup and the bett1open two more highlight events in the tennis summer at ServusTV, ”says David Morgenbesser, Head of Sports Rights and Distribution at ServusTV.
The 103rd edition of the MercedesCup is taking place this year after it had to be postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. In the main field of the TC Weissenhof there are 28 players in singles and 16 teams in doubles. In addition to the German top star Alexander Zverev, the 19-year-old NextGen star Yannik Sinner from Italy and other top stars of the tennis scene will also be at the start of the men's tournament in Stuttgart.
Angelique Kerber is there in Berlin
With the premiere of bett1open, Berlin is celebrating its comeback as the venue for a world-class WTA tournament. On the grass pitches of the Steffi Graf Stadium of the LTTC "Rot-Weiß" e. V., the participants in Germany's largest women's lawn tennis tournament are fighting not only for prize money but also for important world ranking points. In addition to the German top player and three-time Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber, many other international top stars will serve in Berlin.
“We are very happy to start the partnership with ServusTV in order to be able to present our events to tennis fans in Germany LIVE on free-to-air TV! Since we are preparing for the most important Grand Slam of the year through our close cooperation with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) Wimbledon and the two tournaments in Stuttgart and Berlin, we are all the more pleased that we have succeeded to be able to design this two-week stretch of top women's and men's tennis together with ServusTV ”, says Edwin Weindorfer, CEO & Founder of the e | motion group.
Simon Schleich, Managing Director, e | motion Germany & Spain, adds: “Our aim in these difficult times is to offer the sports-loving spectators great entertainment and to show the special features of lawn tennis via various linear and digital distribution channels. The viewer should have the feeling of “being even closer”, also and especially since sporting events in the summer of 2021 can certainly run and be attended differently than in the past. Since the quality of the grass pitches and thus the optimal preparation of the players is very important to us, this is always checked together with the AELTC and the corresponding processes are optimized. For this purpose, the latest lawn technology paired with the great experience of the 'Greenkeeper & Groundsmen' is used. The special features of lawn tennis will also be reflected in the broadcast concept, technical innovations, the selection of experts and the editorial support. Tennis on grass is very special and we would like to celebrate this fact together with our partner ServusTV and present the viewers with new insights and exciting top-class sport. "