World Team Tennis Returns with CNBC and Fandango Broadcast Deal
The mixed-gender tennis league co-founded by Billie Jean King will resume after a five-year pause, with all matches airing in primetime on CNBC and streaming on Fandango. The reboot features city-based teams, a new match format, and player equity stakes. Top players including Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul have committed to the December season.
The league's December window deliberately avoids conflicts with the Grand Slam circuit, giving marquee players a chance to compete during the off-season. Its three founding franchises—New York, Toronto, and Florida—anchor the revival in major metropolitan arenas, while the revised format condenses play into four singles sets plus a mixed doubles tiebreaker, a departure from traditional scoring structures.
Player equity stakes represent a notable shift in how the league compensates its athletes, tying their financial interests directly to the property's success. USA Sports has been steadily building a portfolio of emerging leagues, including volleyball and padel, suggesting a broader strategy of acquiring rights to sports with growth potential rather than competing for established properties.
This revival could expand tennis viewership by placing matches on CNBC and Fandango, reaching audiences beyond traditional sports networks. The mixed-gender format may also elevate visibility for women athletes in primetime slots. For players, equity stakes could reshape how athletes engage with league governance, though the long-term financial viability of a December season remains uncertain. The league's success could influence how other niche sports pursue media partnerships in a fragmented streaming landscape.