Tiley highlighted the Australian Open’s longstanding media rights agreement with Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) and its technology partnership with Infosys as key components of its India-centric strategy.
He also said that across regions and countries, the top audience for the Australian Open on YouTube is in India. Tennis is a top-three sport on YouTube globally, he added.
“We have a long-term partnership with Sony from a broadcast perspective. Over the last six years, we’ve had a partnership in Infosys, which is also our tech partner,” he said.
Tiley pointed out that the partnership with Sony Sports has been fruitful, especially over the past decade, with strong viewer engagement, particularly during matches featuring Indian players. According to Broadcast Audience Research Council data, live Australian Open Tennis match viewership on Sony Sports Network increased from 9.8 million to 17.6 million, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 15.74% in the post-Covid period. “Tennis has, over the years, had a following among premium audiences, and we have been at the forefront of growing audiences for the grand slams through our multi-channel telecast, local language commentary, and customised studio show programming,” said Rajesh Kaul, who oversees SPNI’s sports and distribution businesses. Kaul added that Australian Open has consistently ranked among the most-watched grand slams, attracting brands seeking to engage with affluent tennis enthusiasts.
Tiley highlighted that the India-Australia cricket rivalry offers potential for cross-sport collaboration, given the strong parallels and mutual respect between tennis and cricket. While tennis enjoys a global presence, cricket remains the most popular sport in India and ranks among the top sports in Australia.
