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Where to watch the Australian Open: streaming and broadcast in Belgium
In short
Broadcast rights for the Australian Open in Belgium belong to Eurosport, exclusively since 2017 and under contract through 2031, with streaming via discovery+ and/or Max. Sporza (VRT) covers news and results only, not live footage. Napoleon Sports doesn't broadcast video, but shows a live scoreboard for both draws.
Who broadcasts the Australian Open in Belgium
Broadcast rights for the Australian Open in Belgium belong to Eurosport, part of Warner Bros. Discovery. Eurosport has broadcast the tournament since 1995 and has held exclusive rights in Belgium since 2017. The contract runs through 2031. That means you can't watch the Australian Open for free through public broadcasting: Sporza (VRT) does cover news and results on the tournament, but doesn't hold the rights to broadcast the matches live. Don't confuse Sporza's news coverage with an actual live stream or broadcast.
Good to know: a Sporza news piece about a result is not a broadcast right. Rights to the matches themselves sit with the pay channel Eurosport, not the public broadcaster.
The Australian Open falls under the same rights family as Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open: all with Eurosport, all behind a paywall. For an ATP Masters 1000 event like Cincinnati, it's different again, with Play Sports holding the Belgian rights. This split changes tournament by tournament, so it's worth checking each time.
Eurosport and discovery+/Max: TV and streaming
Eurosport broadcasts the Australian Open through its linear TV channels Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2, and via streaming through discovery+ and/or Max (the exact platform offering can vary depending on when the broadcast takes place). Access to these streams usually requires a paid subscription. Exact pricing and packages can change from year to year, so check the current terms directly with Eurosport or Max before the tournament starts.
Eurosport usually also provides highlights and summaries of the key matches, often available through its website or app, sometimes without needing to log in. That's useful if you've missed a match, especially with the long men's matches, which at best-of-5 sets can run three to four hours. Check your own internet or TV package, since some Belgian providers include Eurosport channels by default and others don't.
The time difference: why so many matches are played at night
The Australian Open always falls in January, when Melbourne is exactly ten hours ahead of Belgium (Belgium on standard time, Melbourne on daylight saving). That means many matches in Melbourne are played during the day, Australian time, while it's night or early morning in Belgium. Typical start times in Melbourne (around 9 or 11am local time) often line up with the middle of the night or early morning in Belgium.
If you want to follow a full day of play without waking up in the middle of the night, it helps to check the schedule for when your favourite matches are set to play in Australian time, so you can choose which ones to catch live. The evening sessions at Rod Laver Arena, where the biggest matchups are usually scheduled, tend to fall in the early morning in Belgium because of the time difference, which is usually the most workable window for Belgian fans wanting to watch live.
Australian Open versus other Grand Slams: broadcast in Belgium
It's worth knowing, for Belgian tennis viewers, that not every major tournament airs on the same channel.
| Tournament | Belgian rights holder | Free or paid |
|---|---|---|
| US Open | Eurosport / Max | Paid |
| Australian Open | Eurosport / Max | Paid |
| Roland Garros & Wimbledon | Eurosport / Max | Paid |
| Cincinnati (Masters 1000) | Play Sports (Telenet) | Paid |
Anyone wanting to follow the full tennis year may end up needing several subscriptions or packages, depending on the tournament. So check which channel holds the rights each time, rather than assuming it's always the same one. The Australian Open 2027 is planned for 11 to 31 January 2027 at Melbourne Park.
Following live with Napoleon Sports: scores, not video
Important to know: Napoleon Sports doesn't broadcast live video of the Australian Open. What you will find here is a live scoreboard for both draws (ATP and WTA), with the score updating continuously while the match is in progress. That makes the live tennis page a handy companion to Eurosport's coverage, not a replacement for it.
If you want to bet on the Australian Open, find the offer on the ATP betting page and WTA betting page for the Australian Open. Learn more about how tennis betting works in the tennis betting guide.
The Napoleon Sports app
Follow where to watch the Australian Open on the go with the Napoleon Sports app: check the latest info and browse the tennis betting markets from your smartphone. Available features and markets may vary by device or app version.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch the Australian Open for free in Belgium?
Usually not. Sporza (VRT) covers news and results, but doesn't broadcast the matches live. The rights holder, Eurosport, is a pay channel, and the accompanying stream through discovery+ or Max also usually requires a subscription.
Where can I stream the Australian Open live?
Through Eurosport 1 and Eurosport 2 (TV) or through discovery+ and/or Max (streaming), depending on the platform offering at the time of the tournament. Check current terms and pricing directly with Eurosport or Max before the tournament starts.
Is the US Open free to watch, unlike the Australian Open?
No. Like the Australian Open, the US Open sits with Eurosport, a pay channel, with streaming via Max or discovery+. Sporza (VRT) holds no live broadcast rights for any of the four Grand Slams.
What time do I need to get up to follow the Australian Open from Belgium?
During the Australian Open (always in January), Melbourne is exactly ten hours ahead of Belgium. A match starting at 9am Australian time therefore falls around midnight Belgian time. Check the schedule to see when your favourite matches are on.
Does Napoleon Sports broadcast the Australian Open?
No, Napoleon Sports doesn't show live video. At Napoleon Sports you can follow live results and the betting offer for both draws, while watching the footage itself through Eurosport.