• by Wayne Friedman , August 23, 2013

Time Warner Cable will become a multiyear sponsor of the U.S. Open tennis event -- a deal that will start just before CBS airs the event next week.

Time Warner Cable will have what it says is a “strong presence with on and off the court signage, including prominent branding on the umpires chairs, in Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums.” Much of that presence can be seen via TV/video to be aired on CBS next week.

CBS and Time Warner Cable have been in a testy, three-week battle over carriage, where CBS stations in New York, Los Angeles and Dallas have been off. Time Warner Cable’s systems affect some 3.5 million U.S. TV homes. As part of its deal with the U.S. Tennis Association, Time Warner Cable will be “an official sponsor of the US Open Tennis Championships in New York City across its core products and services, including digital cable, high-speed Internet, home phone, and IntelligentHome.”

Amid other messaging at the U.S. Tennis Center in Flushing, NY., it will start the “Time Warner Cable Experience,” where fans can view a six-court FanVision video wall, appearances from former tennis greats, a special umpire chair photo opportunity and charging stations.

At the U.S. Open, Time Warner will provide the first 500 Time Warner Cable customers daily free access to FanVision -- an easy-to-use device that enhances the fan experience through in-depth video, up-to-date data and live audio coverage. Other fans can rent the device at multiple locations for the event.

CBS has been found to have restrict broadband access of its programming through Time Warner Cable’s Internet service. Time Warner Cable has already announced that it is providing Tennis Channel for its customers free during the U.S. Open. In addition, all matches will be streamed live via www.usopen.org.

CBS, which has aired the U.S. Open since the late '60s, starts its coverage this year on August 31. Starting in 2015, ESPN will be the main TV network for the event .