In a major announcement on Tuesday, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed that its subsidiary, TNT Sports, will become the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for the French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, starting in 2025. The 10-year contract, signed with the French Tennis Federation, is estimated to be worth an average of about $65 million annually.

With this deal, Warner Bros. Discovery takes the role of the largest global broadcast partner for the prestigious Grand Slam tournament, which welcomed a staggering 675,000 spectators this year. Although the tournament has been previously broadcast in the U.S. by NBC and the Tennis Channel, Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT Sports is set to redefine the tennis-watching experience for American viewers.

As part of the agreement, TNT Sports will air live coverage of the matches across its platforms, including TNT, TBS, and TruTV, with additional streams available on its streaming platform Max. This move is part of Warner Bros. Discovery's dedication to enhancing its sports offerings and expanding its TNT Sports portfolio.

TNT Sports Chairman and CEO, Luis Silberwasser, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "Roland-Garros perfectly aligns with our global sports strategy and our commitment to adding premium live sports content to our TNT Sports portfolio. We look forward to serving fans with a best-in-class content experience and providing them with direct access to more live Roland-Garros coverage than ever before."

Eurosport, which is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, has been broadcasting the French Open to 55 countries outside the U.S. since 1989. With this new agreement, Warner Bros. Discovery cements its position as a prominent player in the world of sports broadcasting.

In line with its recent endeavors, Warner Bros. Discovery is set to launch a joint sports streaming service called Venu in partnership with Disney's ESPN and Fox, offering a comprehensive range of channels, including TNT, TBS, and TruTV. Adding the French Open to its lineup is yet another testament to the company's commitment to expanding its sports content offerings, while aligning its investment strategy with viewer demand.

While the details of the coverage are yet to be announced, TNT Sports has confirmed that it will have an on-site presence at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, with studio and announcing teams for an immersive viewing experience. Further information about the coverage will be shared in the coming months.

Warner Bros. Discovery's investment in live sports content has been evident in its recent acquisitions, including securing rights for the National Hockey League, NASCAR, U.S. Soccer, the College Football Playoffs (through a sublicense deal with ESPN), and most recently, the French Open. The company is also in ongoing negotiations with the NBA to extend their partnership for broadcasting live games.

The expansion into sports broadcasting comes at a time when media giants, including Warner Bros. Discovery, are increasingly relying on sports as a means to attract larger audiences and generate higher advertising revenue. With the launch of Venu this fall, Warner Bros. Discovery is poised to continue its growth in the sports broadcasting industry.

It's worth noting that Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC, holds a significant stake in the current U.S. broadcasting rights for the French Open. Nonetheless, Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT Sports has undeniably positioned itself as a formidable player in the future of sports broadcasting, solidifying its commitment to providing fans with top-quality live sports coverage.