The Australian Open will return to Fox Sports after the channel agreed to terms with Seven over coverage (Image Source: Australian Open)

Coverage of the Australian Open tennis tournament will return to subscription television after Fox Sports and Seven agreed to terms regarding access to matches not shown on free-to-air.

Under the agreement, Fox Sports will be able to show matches outside of the centre court live for the first eight days of the tournament and replay rights for the quarter finals onward.

Seven retains the rights to broadcast centre court matches live, as well as other matches on any court either live or delayed. The deal takes effect from the upcoming tournament in January through to 2014.

Seven’s coverage has previously rated extremely well for the network; the men’s final often delivers the network the top rating sports program of the year. But the network’s coverage has had its critics, who have complained about the network cutting away from live matches to go to the 6pm news and showing limited coverage outside of the centre court.

Fox Sports‘ chief executive, David Malone, welcomed the agreement.

“We are delighted to be back in 2011 as a broadcast partner of Tennis Australia providing extensive live and uninterrupted, multi-court coverage of the Australian Open Tennis Championships.

“This new agreement is a further demonstration of Fox Sports’ ongoing commitment to delivering Australian sports fans with the most comprehensive coverage of their favourite sport.”

The sentiment was echoed by Seven’s head of sport, Saul Shtein.

“We’re pleased to be working once again with Fox Sports on a broad coverage of the Australian Open across broadcast and subscription television.”

The agreement comes as broadcasters and peak sporting bodies continue to wait for the Government to release proposed changes to the anti-siphoning list and the rules that govern the list. Currently, all four Grand Slam tournaments are listed events, resulting in Fox Sports having similar agreements with Nine for access to Wimbledon and the French and US Opens.

Media Spy discussion: Fox Sports