Tennis

One of the year’s most significant tennis Grand Slams – Wimbeldon – will this year air live on 7TWO, after Nine last year chose to give up the rights to air the event last year citing the expense of maintaining the rights combined with falling ratings as the main reason to let it go.

For years, Wimbledon was seen on Nine, usually late at night during the tournament due to the time difference. Despite the late night scheduling, Nine saw little or no benefit from the tennis for their network.

Now Seven have taken the free to air rights meaning viewers without subscription TV will be able to watch Wimbledon on 7TWO.

Currently, Nine are airing a nightly highlights package of the French Open finals – also one of the four annual tennis Grand Slams – but those who wish to see live tennis have to do so through Pay TV.

The move by the Seven network to air Wimbledon on 7TWO will be welcome by tennis fans who will be able to enjoy their tennis fix on free to air TV.

Complete programming details will be available soon.

Wimbledon on 7TWO kicks off June 20 and is the perfect mid year complement to Seven’s summer of tennis in January which sees coverage of the Austraslian Open.

Begins Sun 22 May, 7pm AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS

The world’s top players converge on the famous clay courts of Roland Garros for the year’s second Grand Slam and FOX SPORTS will deliver LIVE coverage throughout the tournament. Last year Aussie Sam Stosur carried the hopes of a nation but fell one victory short of her maiden Grand Slam title. Stosur will return to Paris with the goal of going one better in 2011, while on the men’s side Rafael Nadal will once again lead the charge.

Begins Sun 22 May, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 3HD & FOX SPORTS 3

The world’s top players converge on the famous clay courts of Roland Garros for the year’s second Grand Slam and FOX SPORTS will deliver LIVE coverage throughout the tournament. Last year Aussie Sam Stosur carried the hopes of a nation but fell one victory short of her maiden Grand Slam title. Stosur will return to Paris with the goal of going one better in 2011, while on the men’s side we will once again marvel at the exploits of the ‘King of Clay’, Rafael Nadal.

The city of love comes alive with a frantic fortnight of tennis action starting this Sunday and FOX SPORTS will capture all the drama and glory with live daily coverage throughout the 2011 French Open Tennis Championships.

The famous clay courts of Roland Garros have conjured some of the most memorable images and events in tennis history and, with the stunning backdrop of the city of Paris, were the inspiration behind a spectacular promotional campaign for the 2011 French Open Championships which is now airing on FOX SPORTS.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

The link above takes you behind the scenes on the promotional shoot featuring two rising female tennis stars in Moulin Rouge-inspired outfits, being filmed at up to 1000 frames per second at the historic White City tennis centre in Sydney, which was visually transformed into a clay court venue in the heart of Paris.

The shoot was designed to capture the beauty and power of the year’s second Grand Slam, where the world’s best players will once again converge on Paris to conquer the game’s toughest surface.

FOX SPORTS will deliver LIVE coverage every day of the 2011 French Open Championships, beginning this Sunday 22 May from 7pm AEST on FOX SPORTS 3HD & FOX SPORTS 3.

LIVE coverage will continue throughout the finals and will culminate with the women’s final on Saturday 4 June and the men’s decider on Sunday 5 June.

Australia will be represented by seven players in the main draw at Roland Garros, including World No.8 and last year’s finalist Sam Stosur and rising star Jarmila Gajdosova, who hit a career high ranking of 25 this week.

Anastasia Rodionova and Jelena Dokic round out the women’s main draw entries, while Lleyton Hewitt makes his return to action following foot surgery and is Australia’s top men’s hope. Most eyes at the tournament however will be on Serbian star Novak Djokovic as he looks to continue his remarkable winning streak.

FOX SPORTS News and the FOX SPORTS website, www.foxsports.com.au, will keep fans in the know throughout the tournament with analysis, live match updates and highlights, including previews and regular interviews with FOX SPORTS tennis expert Wally Masur from Paris.

FOX SPORTS View, the FOX SPORTS iPad app, will also deliver video news reports of all the French Open action and live scores will also be available on the FOX SPORTS mobile site, m.foxsports.com.au.

FOX SPORTS coverage of the 2011 French Open Championships is available to FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers.

The Seven Network today signed an agreement with The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for extensive free-to-air broadcast television coverage of The Championships.

The multiple year broadcast television agreement for coverage of Wimbledon complements the network’s coverage of The Australian Open tennis and adds further depth to Seven’s leadership in sports television.

The agreement between Seven and The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was announced today by Seven’s Head of Sport, Saul Shtein.

Mick Desmond, Commercial Director of The All England Club, said: “We are delighted to be announcing this partnership with Seven. This agreement allows sports fans across Australia to enjoy Seven’s creative approach to bringing alive the stories and the colour of The Championships, while the development of multi-media and wireless platforms will provide viewers with an improved choice of how to access all the on and off court action and drama.”

Commenting, Mr Shtein, said: “Wimbledon is one of the world’s great sports events and Seven looks forward to being the network that delivers Australians the broadest possible coverage of The Championships on broadcast television.”

Seven will have first selection on the ‘best two matches’ of each day’s play through to and including the quarter-finals and will have exclusive coverage of the singles semi-finals and finals and doubles finals in the Ladies’ and Men’s Championships.

Seven is planning extensive coverage of the Championships across its digital broadcast television platform in primetime, which will include live telecasts from the start of play on one of its multi-channels. Seven is currently in discussions with the Office of the Minister for Communications on these plans.

This year’s Championship commences on 20 June.

A multi-year deal has been announced today which will see Wimbledon broadcast in 3D around the world.

Sony and the All England Lawn Tennis Club have formed a partnership that will see the annual Grand Slam tournament shot in 3D and screened in cinemas around the world.

The 3D content will also be made available to broadcasters although it looks likely that seeing as the BBC is the host broadcaster and must provide terrestrial coverage, the 3D coverage will not be available on the UK’s only 3D channel Sky3D.

“We are delighted that our 3D partnership with Sony will not only guarantee we are at the cutting edge of live sporting television, but also deliver a compelling new viewing experience for our global audiences, especially among our younger supporters,” said Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

6:30pm – Sunday, January 30 on Seven

6:30PM – TENNIS PREVIEW SPECIAL

A special look back at all of the fun, colour and on-court action from the past two weeks of the Australian Open including a preview of the Men’s Final tonight.

7:30PM – MEN’S FINAL

After two weeks of hot tennis, 126 matches, and 128 competitors the men’s title comes down to a battle of two gladiators at Rod Laver Arena. Will it be Nadal, Federer, Murray, Djokovic, Del Potro, Roddick, Tsonga, Hewitt or even a so-called outsider? Only one man can take home the first Grand Slam of 2011 and $2.2 million in prize money.

6:30pm – Saturday, January 29 on Seven

6:30PM – TENNIS PREVIEW SPECIAL

A comprehensive review and preview of all the fun, colour and on-court action of the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific.

7:30PM – WOMEN’S FINAL

With no Serena Williams in the draw it’s been one of the most open women’s tournaments in years. Clijsters, Stosur, Wozniacki and a swag of others have all been in the mix at some stage. A final winner will be revealed to take out the first Grand Slam of 2011 and $2.2 million in prize money.

11:00am – Monday, January 24 on Seven

11:00AM – DAY SESSION

The world’s top tennis players converge on Melbourne Park to vie for the prestigious title and a record prize pool of $25 million, one of the biggest in world sport.

Players include Roger Federer, Sam Stosur, Rafael Nadal, Kim Clijsters, Novak Djokovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Juan Martin Del Potro and Andy Murray.

Hosted by Matt White and Hamish McLachlan with commentary from Jim Courier, Sam Smith, Todd Woodbridge, Roger Rasheed, Nicole Bradtke, Sandy Roberts, John Fitzgerald, Rennae Stubbs, Allan Stone, Chris Dittmar and Kerryn Pratt.

7:30PM – NIGHT SESSION

Coverage of the Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific continues where viewers can expect the biggest names in tennis, the hottest action in years and a comprehensive coverage of the event.

Hosted by Johanna Griggs.

Day 8, Mon 24 Jan, 10.30am AEDST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS 2HD & FOX SPORTS 2

FOX SPORTS continues its LIVE multi-court coverage from the year’s opening Grand Slam. Fans can choose their desired match from four different courts, including headline fixtures on Hisense Arena. FOX SPORTS will continue its coverage of the Australian open beyond the round of 16 with delayed coverage of all matches from the quarter finals onwards.