ServusTV Germany to broadcast bett1open
Both tournaments will be broadcasted in June live in free TV.
ServusTV Germany has acquired the exclusive free TV-rights for two tennis classics: the MercedesCup in Stuttgart (ATP men’s tour) and the bett1open in Berlin (WTA women’s tour). The licensing rights comprise all means of distribution (satellite, cable, IPTV, web and mobile) until 2022. ServusTV will broadcast the main draw matches live. It all starts with the MercedesCup, held from 7-13 June 2021. From 14-20 June 2021 ServusTV will show the matches of the bett1open.
“After broadcasting THIEMs7 and the bett1ACES last year and the ATP Cup 2021 we are very happy to offer our audience two more highlight events with the MercedesCup and the bett1open this summer”, says David Morgenbesser, head of sport rights and distribution at ServusTV.
The MercedesCup will already see its 103rd edition this year after having have to be canceled due to the pandemic in 2020. 28 players will enter the singles main draw and 16 pairs the doubles draw on the premises of the TC Weissenhof. Alongside Germany’s top star Alexander Zverev, the only 19-year old NextGen star Yannik Sinner from Italy and lots of other top players will grace the men’s tournament in Stuttgart.
The premiere of the bett1open in Berlin is at the same time the comeback of a stadium which has already seen world class tennis before this new edition of a WTA 500 tournament. In 2020 the grass courts of the Steffi-Graf-Stadium at the LTTC “Rot-Weiß” e.V. have been freshly constructed. Now, the participants will fight under the auspices of German chancellor Angela Merkel for the title, the prize-money and important points for the world rankings at Germany’s biggest women’s grass court tournament. Lots of international stars will participate alongside German local hero and three-times Grand Slam winner Angelique Kerber.
“We are very happy to start our partnership with ServusTV and present our events to the tennis fans in Germany LIVE and on free TV! Because of our close cooperation with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) Wimbledon our two tournaments in Stuttgart and Berlin represent an important part of the preparation for the most important Grand Slam tournament of the year. Thus, we are even more pleased that we are able to shape this two weeks of top men’s and women’s tennis together with ServusTV”, says Edwin Weindorfer, CEO & founder of the e|motion group.
Simon Schleich, Managing Director, e|motion Germany and Spain, adds: “Our demand in these trying times is to offer the audience great entertainment as well as the peculiarities of grass-court tennis via linear and digital means of distribution. The viewer will have the experience immersing himself ‘even closer’ into the action – especially because sport events in 2021 will certainly be different than in the past. The premium quality coverage will also put our partners and sponsors in a special light. This will not only be a successful engagement but also offer a multitude of innovative activation options.”
“Because the quality of the grass courts and therefore the players’ preparation is of the utmost importance to us, the quality will be constantly examined together with the AELTC, relevant processes will be optimized. To this end we use the latest grass technology paired with the great experience of the ‘Greenkeeper & Groundsmen’. The unique characteristics will be reflected in the coverage concept, technical innovations, the choice of experts and the editorial support. Tennis on grass is something special and we want to celebrate this fact together with our partner ServusTV and offer our viewers new insights and exciting high-class sport”, says Schleich.