MYLAN WTT, ESPN Agree to Multi-Year Deal for Matches on ESPN2, ESPN3 | Sports Destination Management

MYLAN WTT, ESPN Agree to Multi-Year Deal for Matches on ESPN2, ESPN3

Share
Jun 30, 2014
ESPN3 to Air 20 Matches This Summer; Mylan WTT Finals Live on ESPN2

Mylan World TeamTennis and ESPN have agreed to a multiyear deal to air the Mylan WTT Finals live on ESPN2 and broadcast more than 60 hours of programming annually on ESPN3.

Mylan WTT will add to ESPN3’s industry-leading tennis lineup, adding to its robust summer schedule of US Open Series events while showcasing the sport in a professional team format to ESPN’s nationwide audience.   

The ESPN partnership is a key part of Mylan WTT’s enhanced digital presence which includes new and upgraded smartphone apps, an online content aggregator and off the court content with Mylan WTT players on WTT.com.

The four-year agreement includes streaming one match each night of the Mylan WTT season on ESPN3 beginning on July 7.  The first featured match on ESPN3 is a battle between the league’s two new teams, the Austin Aces and the San Diego Aviators.  Andy Roddick, who joined the WTT ownership group in 2013, heads up the Austin team that will take on San Diego in their home opener.   The action shifts to Austin the next night for the Aces’ first home match as 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli joins Roddick on the Aces’ lineup.

“The team play with the game’s stars in Mylan WTT adds an exciting and different type of event for our industry-leading tennis lineup on ESPN3,” said Jason Bernstein, ESPN senior director, programming and acquisitions.

“We are excited to expand the reach of Mylan World TeamTennis with great broadcast partners at ESPN2 and ESPN3,” said Mylan WTT CEO/Commissioner Ilana Kloss.  “Access is a cornerstone of our league and this partnership gives us a broader platform to showcase the best in professional team tennis competition and to introduce more fans to our brand.” 

Other anticipated highlights throughout the 39th season of Mylan WTT action include the home opener of the defending champion Washington Kastles on July 9 as they start their bid for a record-tying fourth consecutive title.  Longtime Kastles star Venus Williams, who is also part of the WTT ownership group, joins the team on the July 16 and 17 broadcasts.  The regular season closes out on July 22 and 23 with the world’s top-ranked doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan leading San Diego at home against the Texas Wild and Austin.

The Mylan WTT Conference Championships will air on ESPN3 on Thursday, July 24.  The conference champions advance to the Mylan WTT Finals on Sunday, July 27, on the home court of the Western Division champions.  The action starts at 5:00pm ET on ESPN3 with ESPN2 joining the coverage at 6:00pm ET as the best in professional team tennis battle for the King Trophy, named after league co-founder Billie Jean King.

MYLAN WTT MATCHES ON ESPN3

DATE     MATCH    START TIME (ET)

  • Mon., July 7     Austin at San Diego      10:00pm
  • Tues., July 8    Springfield at Austin    8:30pm
  • Wed., July 9     Boston at Washington     7:00pm
  • Thurs., July 10  Springfield at Boston    7:00pm
  • Fri., July 11    Washington at Austin     8:30pm
  • Sat., July 12    Texas at Springfield     8:00pm
  • Sun., July 13    Austin at Springfield    8:00pm
  • Mon., July 14    San Diego at Washington  7:00pm
  • Tues., July 15   San Diego at Philadelphia        7:00pm
  • Wed., July 16    Texas at Washington      7:00pm
  • Thurs., July 17  Washington at Philadelphia       7:00pm
  • Fri., July 18    Texas at Austin  8:30pm
  • Sat., July 19    Springfield at Texas     8:30pm
  • Sun., July 20    Philadelphia at Boston   6:00pm
  • Mon., July 21    Austin at Philadelphia   7:00pm
  • Tues., July 22   Texas at San Diego       10:00pm
  • Wed., July 23    Austin at San Diego      10:00pm

POST-SEASON

  • Thurs. July 24   WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP  TBD
  • Thurs. July 24   EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP  TBD
  • Sun. July 27     MYLAN WTT FINALS         * 5:00pm

All matches listed here are scheduled to be LIVE streamed on ESPN3, WTT.com and TENNIS.com

MYLAN WTT FINALS LIVE ON ESPN2

Sun., July 27    MYLAN WTT FINALS         * 6:00pm

The 2014 Mylan WTT Finals will be LIVE on ESPN2.

* The Finals live stream starts at 5:00pm ET on ESPN3 with the ESPN2 broadcast beginning at 6:00pm ET

About Mylan World TeamTennis: Mylan World TeamTennis showcases the best in professional team tennis competing for the King Trophy, the league’s championship trophy which is named after co-founder Billie Jean King.  The 39th season of Mylan WTT runs July 6-27, 2014.  For more information on Mylan WTT, visit www.WTT.com. 

About ESPN3: ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of exclusive sports events annually.  It is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast (via the WatchESPN app), Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.  The network is currently available to more than 92 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider.  The network is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.

(Click to Expand)