
USTA AND XM SATELLITE RADIO SIGN NEW MULTI-YEAR BROADCAST
AND MARKETING PARTNERSHIP FOR US OPEN AND US OPEN SERIES
Nation's Leading Satellite Radio Company to Broadcast
Finals, Semifinals, and Daily Highlight Shows Live From US Open
XM To Air Weekly US Open Series Programming Throughout Summer
The USTA today announced a new broadcast and marketing
partnership for XM Satellite Radio, the nation's leading
satellite radio company, to become the first and exclusive
satellite radio broadcaster for the US Open and US Open
Series. For the first time ever, XM will broadcast live
radio coverage of the US Open men's and women's singles
finals and semifinals, as well as US Open Series highlight
packages to XM's 4.4 million subscribers.
The new three-year partnership and
XM's commitment to the sport in the U.S. begins this week
with the first of its summer-long weekly reports from the
US Open Series, the North American summer season of 10
ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments linked to the
US Open. These shows will feature exclusive programming
from the tournaments, including reviews and previews, in-depth
interviews, and the latest US Open Series Bonus Challenge
standings. The reports will air across XM's sports, news,
and talk channels during the US Open Series.
At the US
Open, XM will culminate its summer-long programming with
play-by-play coverage and long-form programming on XM Live
(XM Channel 200). For the first time in US Open history,
fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy live ball-by-ball
coverage of the men's and women's singles finals and semifinals.
XM also will broadcast daily highlight packages, recapping
all the action at the US Open, featuring match results,
player interviews, and preview analysis of the following
day's matches. Hall of Fame journalist Bud Collins will
anchor XM's play-by-play coverage of the US Open, and host
a daily hour-long show on XM from Arthur Ashe Stadium at
9:00 A.M. ET during the tournament.
"This new partnership
with XM represents another breakthrough for the sport in
the U.S. and another way to further connect tennis with
a broader fan base," said Arlen Kantarian,
Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA.
"XM delivers
a new way for fans to connect with the excitement of the
US Open Series and US Open," said
Pierce O'Neil, Chief Business Officer, USTA. "The
new distribution of US Open broadcast media through XM
to more than 4.4 million subscribers complements our significant
domestic and international television and online media
platforms for the US Open."
"As the official satellite radio network of the US
Open, XM will bring one of the nation's premier sporting
events to millions of subscribers from coast to coast," said
Eric Logan, Executive Vice President of Programming, XM
Satellite Radio. "This partnership underscores XM's
commitment to delivering the most play-by-play sports programming
in satellite radio. XM's in-depth coverage of the US Open,
plus our original programming leading up to the event,
will provide for a unique, never-before-heard listening
experience."
"This agreement gives XM a major presence
at the highest annually-attended sporting event in the
world," said
Howard Jacobs, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnership
Marketing, XM Satellite Radio. "More than 625,000
people attend the US Open, and XM will be there in full
force to cover the action and connect with fans so they
can experience XM firsthand."
XM's
multi-tiered marketing program will include significant
presence at the US Open, including an on-site product
booth at the USTA National Tennis Center, banner ads
on USOpen.org, and print advertising in USTA Magazine
and in the US Open Program. XM also will sponsor Arthur
Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess, the full-day tennis
and music festival for children and families on Saturday,
August 27.
The US Open Series
is the six-week summer tennis season linking 10 major ATP
and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments to the US Open.
The US Open Series launched in 2004, and resulted in record
attendance and TV viewership with over 200 live broadcast
hours. Television viewership was up over 50%, with regularly
scheduled broadcasts on ESPN, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and
The Tennis Channel. In total, the US Open Series events
- - including the US Open - - generated a record 1.5 million
attendees, 126 million TV viewers and over 15 million website
visits. Lindsay Davenport and Lleyton Hewitt won the
inaugural US Open Series.
The
2005 US Open is expected to attract over 625,000 fans,
making it the highest attended annual sporting event in
the world. More than 86 million viewers watched the 2004
US Open on CBS Sports and USA Network, and international
broadcasts reached 199 countries. New fan enhancements
at the 2005 tournament will feature a multi-million dollar
upgrade of the USTA National Tennis Center grounds, including
the opening of the US Open Court of Champions attraction,
a renovated South Plaza, and the introduction of "US
Open Blue" courts.
The 2005 US Open will be held Monday, August 29 through
Sunday, September 11. Tickets for the 2005 US Open can
be purchased four ways: 1) at usopen.org; 2) by calling
Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX; 3) at all Ticketmaster
outlets; or 4) at the USTA National Tennis Center box
office. American Express is the Official Card of the
US Open.
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