India’s Jiostar has made a bold move in the global sports broadcasting space — securing exclusive Indian rights to the US Open tennis Grand Slam until 2030. The landmark deal, brokered by IMG on behalf of the USTA (United States Tennis Association), positions Jiostar as a serious long-term player in the premium tennis rights market.
From Linear to Streaming: A Unified Distribution Model
All US Open matches will now be aired across Jiostar’s hybrid ecosystem — the Star Sports Network on linear TV and the JioHotstar platform for digital audiences. The dual-platform strategy caters to India’s diverse viewer segments and evolving consumption habits, bringing the sport to households across the country.
More than just coverage, Jiostar has committed to elevating the broadcast experience with multi-language commentary, behind-the-scenes features, and enhanced storytelling — tapping into India’s growing appetite for immersive sports content.
A Changing of the Guard
Jiostar’s acquisition ends Sony Pictures Network’s brief two-year run as the US Open’s broadcast partner in India. Ironically, the rights now return to familiar hands — Jiostar is the result of the Disney Star merger, which held US Open rights from 2017 to 2021.
The move consolidates Jiostar’s dominance in tennis broadcasting, joining Wimbledon as part of its Grand Slam portfolio. “With the US Open, Jiostar now delivers 50% of the tennis Grand Slam calendar to Indian viewers,” said Harry Griffith, Head of International Acquisitions and Syndication at Jiostar. “This deal reflects our commitment to bringing the world’s best sporting moments to fans across every screen.”
Tennis as a Global Growth Asset
While India is not yet a dominant player in world tennis, interest in the sport has surged thanks to Grand Slam coverage, top-tier player narratives, and the growing cross-section of fitness, wellness, and celebrity culture around the sport. For Jiostar, this isn’t just a broadcast win — it’s a data and engagement play.
Tennis offers a year-round calendar, a global fanbase, and high-income demographics — attributes that make it ideal for advertisers and platforms seeking sticky, premium content.
Global Rights Chessboard: The Bigger Picture
The US Open rights market remains fragmented globally, but tightly controlled by premium players:
- ESPN holds long-term rights in the Americas through 2037
- Sky covers the UK, Italy, and Germany
- Warner Bros. Discovery holds pan-European rights
- BeIN Sports controls the Middle East and North Africa
- Eclat broadcasts in 15 Asian markets
Jiostar’s acquisition in India marks a vital piece in this global jigsaw — and underscores how the Indian market is increasingly seen as pivotal to global sports strategy.
Record-Breaking Tournaments, Rising Viewership
The US Open has enjoyed a significant upswing across attendance and media numbers:
- 2024 was a breakthrough year, with total in-person attendance surpassing 1 million for the first time in the tournament’s history — a jump of 8% over the 2023 record.
- The main draw alone drew 832,640 fans, while the newly expanded US Open Fan Week saw over 219,000 visitors engage with tennis-themed experiences.
While 2023’s finals were record-setting on TV — especially Coco Gauff’s maiden Grand Slam win, which drew 3.4 million viewers on ESPN — 2024 viewership was hit by a distribution dispute between ESPN and DirecTV. Even so, the sport’s trajectory remains upward.
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