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China Open signs landmark broadcasting deal

By Anonymous

July 15, 2004 -- The China Open has announced a landmark agreement with national network CCTV that will result in the biggest domestic TV broadcast of any tennis tournament in the world.

They also announced that in addition to previously confirmed stars Marat Safin, Carlos Moya and Paradorn Srichaphan, more players for the September 10-26 event at the new Beijing Tennis Centre will include reigning French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero and 2002 Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian.

Hailing the deal with CCTV5, China's nationwide sports channel, tournament director Lincoln Venancio said: "CCTV is making a long-term commitment to the China Open. CCTV will represent to the China Open what the BBC represents to Wimbledon and what CBS represents to the US Open. With approximately seven hours of live broadcasts per day, plus additional highlights programmes, September will truly be 'Tennis Month' in China.

"This momentous agreement is a giant step forward in the China Open’s drive to become one of the world's top tennis tournaments and it will ensure that the great tennis being played at the China Open will be broadcast to the entire Chinese population. Not only this, but the action shown on CCTV will also be beamed to dozens of other countries around the world, ensuring success and exposure for the China Open on a global scale."

Ma Guoli, president of CCTV Sports, welcomed the agreement, saying: "Today is a historic day for tennis in China. CCTV is delighted to become the official host broadcaster of the China Open. We will take great pride in delivering the world-class tennis that will be played to the people of China. This historic broadcast – totalling some 150 hours – will be greater in scale than the domestic TV coverage of any other tennis event in the world. CCTV reaches over one billion people while CCTV5 reaches over 700 million people. Without question, we are looking at the largest domestic audience for any tennis event in history.

"In order to continue to improve the broadcast standard of sport in China, CCTV will also host a sports broadcasting conference around the staging of the China Open which will provide an excellent opportunity to television companies from our country and the region to familiarise themselves with the latest developments in sports broadcasting."

The China Open, part of the Association of Tennis Professionals tour, will have a unique format featuring competitions for men, women, seniors and juniors.

Former US Open champion Safin has already been signed up together with former French Open winner Moya and Thai sensation Paradorn.

Spanish world number four Ferrero said he was looking forward to the tournament, which will be played on "medium pace" hard courts. "I'm very excited about coming to play at the China Open," he said. "I'm sure it will become a very significant tournament and I would like very much to be the first person in history to win it.

"I'm very comfortable on medium pace hard courts and reached the US Open final last year and the Australian Open semi-finals this year. I'm sure the atmosphere will be electrifying and I look forward to playing my best tennis for the people of China."

Ferrero will be joined in the draw by Argentina's Nalbandian, the current world number eight, plus former Australian Open finalist and world number five Rainer Schuettler of Germany, American Davis Cup stars Taylor Dent and Jan-Michael Gambill, all-action Moroccan player Younes El Aynaoui and rising Spanish star Rafael Nadal.

Tournament director Venancio added: "The clear objectives of the China Open are: to develop it into one of the world's top five tennis tournaments; to make it Asia's premier annual sports event; and to ensure it is a great asset to China's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games. With the backing of China's Ministry of Sports and the Beijing Municipal Government, with a star-studded line-up of players, and with a state-of-the-art tennis facility, we are extremely confident about achieving these goals."

The China Open will remain in the 2008 Olympic Capital for a minimum of 10 years (2004-2013) under the leadership of its tournament co-honorary chairmen, National Minister of Sport Yuan Weimin and Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan.

The China Open is organised by China's National Ministry of Sport and Beijing Municipal Government in co-operation with Beijing Youth Daily Group and the TOM Group.

Released on behalf of the China Open by Two Up Front, Asia's premier sports publishing and media relations company.

Contact:
Niall Donnelly
Two Up Front
Tel: (852) 2854 2136
Fax: (852) 2854 2134



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