Official: FIP in a 4-year broadcast deal with US giant ESPN

In three weeks, the map of the padel world will be redrawn. That's when the new World Tour created by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and backed by both Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) and the Professional Players Association kicks off.
Now it´s official that ESPN buys TV rights for the new tour in South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

On Saturday, registration closed for the first event of the new FIP tour in Doha, with 123 teams from 19 different countries registered. 

The International Padel Federation today announces ESPN as a major new broadcast partner, covering South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The Disney-owned broadcaster has signed a four-year agreement. 

”When we say we are taking padel to the top of world sport, we mean it – and this major 4-year deal with ESPN for South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean is testament to that. Disney-owned ESPN is one of the world’s foremost sports broadcasters and a US giant of media – the fact we have signed this partner reaffirms the global ambitions that we hold; and also the enormous interest in the new Official tour. There is much more to come”, says the President of FIP, Luigi Carraro in a press release. 

A separate deal for the USA is coming later. 

The only players who will not take part in the top 20 pairs are Nox players Agustin Tapia and Miguel Lamperti. Also, Nox-sponsored Rafa Mendez, 50 in the rankings, will not participate. 

The reason is that Nox advises its players not to break the contracts the players have with the World Padel Tour. The top 20 in the world have a so-called exclusivity agreement with the World Padel Tour, something many break and risk heavy fines from the WPT. 

”This week is also expected to see the launch of the Official tour’s new name, logo, and other brand identities, which have been advised upon by some of the world’s top creative consultants”, the press release states.