Now TV, the media entertainment arm of HKT, and beIN Asia Pacific announced an expansion of their collaboration to offer live coverage of two major Grand Slams, the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, starting this January. Both competitions will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS (CH638 & 639) with Cantonese commentary on selected matches on Now TV and Now E.
In addition to these two major tournaments, beIN SPORTS is also broadcasting the Laver Cup and the Adelaide International (ATP 250) tournaments. Coverage of the Australian Open will include the AO Qualifying Tournament, AO Junior Championships, AO Wheelchair Championships, AO Legends, AO Australian and Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-offs.
Mr. Derek Choi, Head of Pay TV, HKT, said, "Now TV always strives to bring the best global sports content to Hong Kong market, and Australian Open and Roland-Garros are definitely top of the list among the tennis fans. We are excited to collaborate with beIN Asia Pacific to bring two of the Grand Slam tennis events to Hong Kong. We will also provide Cantonese commentary on selected matches for Hong Kong viewers as a very critical part of our content localization strategy. Being the Home of Sports in Hong Kong, our team will continue to work closely with content partners around the world to secure other highly anticipated sports events for local viewers."
Mr. Choi added, "After winning the Boys Double in the US Open Junior Tennis Championships 2021, our talented Hong Kong tennis player Coleman Wong Chak-lam will be aiming to triumph in the AO Junior Championships 2022. Let's cheer for him and wish him the best of luck in this tournament!"
Mr. Mike Kerr, Managing Director of beIN Asia Pacific, said, "We are thrilled to partner with Now TV to bring some of the world's most exciting tennis tournaments to fans in Hong Kong. The addition of the Australian Open and Roland-Garros to our robust football offering reflects our ongoing commitment to deliver the best live sports experience on beIN. By giving fans unparalleled access to the matches, off-court moments, player stories and more across all screens, we look forward to working alongside Now TV to bring in new audiences and increase fan engagement like never before."
Known as the Grand Slam of Asia Pacific, the Australian Open will be held from January 17 to 30, 2022. Fans can look forward to a nail-biting lineup of matches between Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Alexander Zverev and 2021 US Open Champion Daniil Medvedev. Naomi Osaka, four-time Grand Slam winner and the reigning champion, is set to defend her title and lift her third Australian Open trophy. Hopes are also on world number one Ash Barty to win her maiden home slam and become the first local player to claim an Australian Open singles title in 44 years.
This year is the 126th edition of Roland-Garros, which is scheduled to start on May 16 and end on June 5. The only Grand Slam played on clay and the most unforgiving of all tournaments, Roland-Garros is arguably the best spectacle tennis has to offer. Women's tennis G.O.A.T., Serena Williams, will hopefully return after missing two Grand Slams due to a hamstring injury. It may be another Djokovic-Nadal fight as Djokovic looks to defend his title against Nadal, the "King of Clay", who is the most prolific French Open winner with 13 Roland-Garros titles.
Last June, Now TV and beIN Asia Pacific announced their extended collaboration to bring live coverage of UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League and UEFA Youth League to Hong Kong audiences from the 2021/22 season to the 2023/24 season.
Source: PCCW Press Release