US Open tennis leaving CBS for ESPN in 2015

The U.S. Open is the latest major sporting event to move to ESPN after agreeing to move in 2015.

Charles Krupa/AP

The U.S. Open tennis tournament will leave CBS after nearly a half-century and move all TV coverage to cable starting in 2015 under an 11-year contract with ESPN.

The new deal between the U.S. Tennis Association and ESPN, announced Thursday, also includes the series of North American summer hard-court tournaments leading up to the Open.

Since 2009, ESPN already has shown some matches from the season's last Grand Slam championship, with CBS airing a half-dozen days of coverage, including the men's and women's singles finals.

CBS has broadcast the U.S. Open every year since 1968; its current deal expires after the 2014 tournament.

ESPN will then take over the entire event until 2025, with the ability to sell off rights to other channels with USTA approval.