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:Press Release 2005:
U.S. TENNIS ASSOCIATION AND XM SATELLITE RADIO SIGN MULTI-YEAR BROADCAST AND MARKETING PARTNERSHIP FOR US OPEN AND US OPEN SERIES
Bud Collins to Anchor XM Satellite Radio's Coverage Live from 2005 US Open; XM Airs Weekly US Open Series Programming Leading Up to US Open
Washington D.C., August 01, 2005 -- The United States Tennis Association (USTA) and XM Satellite Radio today announced a new broadcast and marketing partnership for XM, the nation's leading satellite radio company, to broadcast live the 2005 US Open men's and women's singles finals and the four semifinals from Arthur Ashe Stadium to XM's 4.4 million-plus subscribers. XM will be the "Official Satellite Radio of the US Open" through 2007.
The new three-year partnership also includes weekly reports from the US Open Series, the North American summer season of 10 ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments linked to the US Open. These shows feature exclusive programming from the tournaments, including reviews and previews, in-depth player interviews, and the latest US Open Series Bonus Challenge standings. The reports are airing across XM's sports, news, and talk channels during the US Open Series.
XM's play-by-play anchor for the US Open on XM Live (XM Channel 200) will be renowned sports journalist Bud Collins, who will also host a daily one-hour XM show from the USTA broadcast booth in Arthur Ashe Stadium from 9:00 am to 10:00 am ET during the tournament.
For the first time in US Open history, fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy live ball-by-ball coverage of the men's and women's singles finals and semifinals. XM also will broadcast daily highlight packages, recapping all the action at the US Open, featuring match results, player interviews, and preview analysis of the following day's matches.
"This new partnership with XM is another significant step forward for fans to be able experience tennis in the U.S throughout the summer," said Arlen Kantarian, Chief Executive, Professional Tennis, USTA. "Bringing our sport to more people is at the foundation of our ongoing effort to elevate the profile of the professional game."
"XM delivers a new way for fans to connect with the excitement of the US Open Series and US Open," said Pierce O'Neil, Chief Business Officer, USTA. "The new distribution of US Open broadcast media through XM to more than 4.4 million subscribers complements our significant domestic and international television and online media platforms for the US Open."
"As the official satellite radio network of the US Open, XM will bring one of the nation's premier sporting events to millions of subscribers from coast to coast," said Eric Logan, Executive Vice President of Programming, XM Satellite Radio. "This partnership underscores XM's commitment to delivering the most play-by-play sports programming in satellite radio. We are particularly excited that Bud Collins is anchoring XM's US Open coverage. Bud is a living legend, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and the ideal person to bring the US Open to XM listeners across the country."
"This agreement gives XM a major presence at the highest annually-attended sporting event in the world," said Howard Jacobs, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnership Marketing, XM Satellite Radio. "More than 625,000 people attend the US Open, and XM will be there in full force to cover the action and connect with fans so they can experience XM firsthand."
XM's multi-tiered marketing program will include significant presence at the US Open, including an on-site product booth at the USTA National Tennis Center, banner ads on USOpen.org, and print advertising in USTA Magazine and in the US Open Program. XM also will sponsor Arthur Ashe Kids' Day presented by Hess, the full-day tennis and music festival for children and families on Saturday, August 27.
The US Open Series is the six-week summer tennis season linking 10 major ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments to the US Open. The US Open Series launched in 2004, and resulted in record attendance and TV viewership with over 200 live broadcast hours. Television viewership was up over 50%, with regularly scheduled broadcasts on ESPN, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and The Tennis Channel. In total, the US Open Series events - - including the US Open - - generated a record 1.5 million attendees, 126 million TV viewers and over 15 million website visits. Lindsay Davenport and Lleyton Hewitt won the inaugural US Open Series.
The 2005 US Open is expected to attract over 625,000 fans, making it the highest attended annual sporting event in the world. More than 86 million viewers watched the 2004 US Open on CBS Sports and USA Network, and international broadcasts reached 199 countries. New fan enhancements at the 2005 tournament will feature a multi-million dollar upgrade of the USTA National Tennis Center grounds, including the opening of the US Open Court of Champions attraction, a renovated South Plaza, and the introduction of "US Open Blue" courts.
The 2005 US Open will be held Monday, August 29 through Sunday, September 11. Tickets for the 2005 US Open can be purchased four ways: 1) at usopen.org; 2) by calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-OPEN-TIX; 3) at all Ticketmaster outlets; or 4) at the USTA National Tennis Center box office. American Express is the Official Card of the US Open.
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