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The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) has extended its Chinese broadcast rights deals with Migu and Tencent for the 2026 season.
Key details:
- Migu and Tencent digital platforms will broadcast every tournament held outside the Chinese mainland
- Deals cover live and delayed matches, as well as match clips, for audiences in China, excluding Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and Taiwan
Context:
Alongside Migu and Tencent, video streaming platform Youku will also continue showing WTA tournaments this year as part of a three-year deal agreed in 2024. That agreement marked the tour’s return to Chinese television after its partnership with online streaming service iQiyi broke down following the organisation’s decision to suspend all events in China amid concerns for the safety of Chinese player Peng Shuai.
The WTA claimed its Chinese audience for international events grew 30-fold in 2025, which it credited to ‘a step-change in coverage’ across partner digital platforms and the ongoing success of Chinese players like Zheng Qinwen.
Meanwhile, the tour’s following across its official social channels in China grew by 14 per cent to 2.3 million, with more than 300 per cent growth in followers on platforms like Douyin, Rednote and WeChat channels. Views for the WTA’s video content on social media also increased by 71 per cent compared to 2024, reaching 125 million people.
Comment:
“Our partnerships with leading Chinese streaming platforms have delivered a significant step-change in both coverage and viewership of international tournaments, bringing the excitement of the global WTA Tour to more fans than ever,” said Marina Storti, chief executive of WTA Ventures.
“The surge in streaming audiences, along with rising engagement on social platforms, highlights the growing enthusiasm for women’s tennis in this key market. We are thrilled to extend our valued relationships with Migu and Tencent through the 2026 season, alongside our ongoing partnership with Youku, as we continue to grow the WTA’s presence and impact in China.”
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