World Tennis Magazine

Unique Tennis Perspectives

fourth year

Davenport to Join Navratilova, Sportscaster Bill Macatee in Melbourne During Network Coverage January 17-30

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Tennis Channel has extended its on-air relationships with two stars who both got the most out of their time on the court: Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova and multi-Slam champion and Olympic gold medalist Lindsay Davenport.  The multiyear contracts come on the eve of the network’s fourth year of covering the Australian Open, tennis’ first major tournament of the season, beginning Monday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. ET.  The network has close to 30 hours of live match play lined up for the two-week competition, with 75 additional hours of daily morning show Australian Open Today.

Navratilova, who has been in Tennis Channel’s broadcast booth for every one of the network’s Grand Slam telecasts, will resume her role as lead commentator in Melbourne, again pairing with veteran sportscaster Bill Macatee as the action gets going Down Under.  The 59-time Grand Slam champion and winner of more singles titles than anyone in professional tennis will continue the role she has held with the channel since its first major, the 2007 French Open, covering all four Slams – Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.

Lindsay Davenport

“It’s amazing to think about how far we’ve come since starting with just the French Open in 2007 to now covering all four Slams on Tennis Channel every year,” said Navratilova.  “It’s been wonderful working with Bill Macatee and the entire crew at these great events and I can’t wait to return to Melbourne and get started on the new Slam season.”

In 2011 Davenport will join the Australian Open team for the first time, tackling match analysis, appearing in feature material, roaming the tournament grounds, and handling sideline and interview duties.  She is a veteran of numerous network tournament telecasts in recent years, including her recurring role as host of US Open Tonight and Breakfast at the Open.  She has been a part of Tennis Channel’s broadcast team for the past three season-ending women’s championships and in 2010 provided on-site analysis at the French Open before appearing regularly at Olympus US Open Series events on the network during the summer.

She will significantly broaden her duties with the channel under her new agreement, appearing during coverage of all four Grand Slams, the Olympus US Open Series, Fed Cup and other competitions.  The former No. 1-ranked singles and doubles player will have an on-air presence throughout the year while lending her expertise online through blogs and Q&A’s on the network’s Web site, www.tennischannel.com, and through other digital and social media platforms.

“I’ve enjoyed working with Tennis Channel during the past few years, and I’m excited to build on that relationship, starting with the Australian Open this month” said Davenport.  “I’m also really looking forward to interacting with our viewers through Tennis Channel’s Web site.  There are so many great stories taking place in tennis as we head into 2011.”

In all, Tennis Channel will cover close to 30 hours of live match play over the two weeks of this year’s Australian Open, from the first day of play through the singles quarterfinals, doubles championships and mixed-doubles final.  The network will again televise same-day encore coverage of the men’s and women’s singles semifinals and finals in prime time (ET), giving viewers close to 70 total hours of live and encore coverage.  In adding the men’s and women’s encore singles finals to its live doubles championship coverage, the channel will air all five Australian Open finals, as it has done each year since 2008, when it became the first American television network to carry every one of these events.

The network’s morning program Australian Open Today will show U.S. viewers what happened on the other side of the world while they were sleeping.  The daily, six-hour show will air at 8 a.m. ET most mornings (complete schedule follows) with encore and unseen matches, highlights, original features and more.  In all, Tennis Channel will air 75 hours of Australian Open Todayduring the tournament.

The tournament is part of Tennis Channel’s ongoing Grand Slam alliance with ESPN, which offers audiences a near round-the-clock tournament experience at tennis’ major events.  ESPN is producing all Australian Open coverage for both networks, which will cross-promote each other with each channel utilizing its own commentators.

Australian Open On-Air Talent

Bill Macatee will handle lead play-by-play responsibilities in Tennis Channel’s Australian Open booth this year for the fourth-consecutive year, with Navratilova resuming her primary network Grand Slam analyst’s role.  Leif Shiras and Justin Gimelstob will also return to Melbourne, handling play-by-play and analysis roles, respectively, with Gimelstob handling occasional features as well.  Davenport, in her first year at the Australian Open for the channel, will round out the network’s on-air team.

Tennis Channel’s Web site, www.tennischannel.com, will bring real-time scoring, video highlights, interviews and Australian Open Today features to online visitors this year.  There will also be blogs and columns from the network’s usual stable of writers – Steve Flink, Joel Drucker and James LaRosa – along with newcomer David Rosenberg, a longtime tennis-industry reporter.  In addition to the network’s interactive Australian Open draw, visitors can also enter for a chance to win a trip to the 2012 Australian Open and play its exclusive Racquet Bracket tournament prediction game, with a $1,000 prize package from Wilson Sports and Midwest Sports.

Tennis Channel’s Live Australian Open Match Schedule

Date                                        Time (ET)                   Event

Monday, Jan. 17                      7 p.m.-9 p.m.               First-Round

Tuesday, Jan. 18                      7 p.m.-9 p.m.               Second-Round

Wednesday, Jan. 19                 7 p.m.-11 p.m.            Second-Round

Thursday, Jan. 20                     7 p.m.-11 p.m.             Third-Round

Friday, Jan. 21                       7 p.m.-9 p.m.                Third-Round

Saturday, Jan. 22                      7 p.m.-9 p.m.               Round of 16

Monday, Jan. 24                      7 p.m.-9 p.m.               Women’s Quarterfinals

Wednesday, Jan. 26                 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m.          TBA

Thursday, Jan. 27                     11 p.m.-1 a.m.             Women’s Doubles Final

Saturday, Jan. 29                      5:30 a.m.-7:30 a.m.      Men’s Doubles Final

Sunday, Jan. 30                        12:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m.    Mixed Doubles Final

Tennis Channel’s Australian Open Today Schedule

Australian Open Today airs Monday, Jan. 17-Friday, Jan. 28.  The program generally runs from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. ET.  Exceptions are (all times ET):

Saturday, Jan. 22 – 1 p.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 23 – 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (5 p.m.-7 p.m. encore)

Thursday, Jan. 27 – 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 28 – 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

TENNIS CHANNEL’S 2010 FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE BEGINS WITH TOURNAMENT’S FIRST SERVE SUNDAY, MAY 23

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LOS ANGELES, May 17, 2010 – Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will carry 77 hours of live French Open coverage during its fourth year in Paris, not including same-day repeats of the men’s and women’s singles semifinals.  As a general rule, seven hours of live match play will air each day, from 5 a.m. to noon ET, with coverage continuing through the men’s and women’s quarterfinals deep into the second week of play (see complete schedule below).

The network’s groundbreaking prime-time show, French Open Tonight, will return each evening with anchor Bill Macatee and Tennis Channel’s signature set overlooking the tournament’s famed Musketeer Plaza.  The nightly three-and-a-half-hour show will again offer interviews, highlights, analysis, encore match replays and coverage from in and around the City of Light.  Macatee will host a variety of tennis personalities, including players, coaches, agents, tennis-industry representatives, past champions, Hall of Famers and other notables in the sport.

French Open Tonight will run from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, each evening, and immediately re-air twice in its entirety, throughout the night and early morning, concluding with the start of the following day’s live match play at 5 a.m. ET.  In all, Tennis Channel will show more than 140 hours of the nightly show, with 42 hours of first-run airings.

All of Tennis Channel’s coverage from the world’s most prestigious clay-court competition will be produced in high definition.  The network is working with ESPN2 again to bring viewers an almost round-the-clock tournament experience for the fourth consecutive year, with each channel cross-promoting the other’s schedule.  As Tennis Channel’s daily match coverage concludes at noon ET, ESPN2 picks up the action without missing a beat, covering the tournament through 6:30 p.m. ET, when Tennis Channel’s French Open Tonight begins.  Tennis Channel will produce all coverage for both channels, with each making use of its own on-air team.

On-Air Talent

John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova have become fixtures of Tennis Channel’s French Open coverage and will be back in the network’s booth this year as lead on-air analysts.  In their fourth year of providing Hall of Fame insight, the pair will be joined by new correspondent Lindsay Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam singles winner who reached the French Open semifinals in 1998.  Ted Robinson, Ian Eagle and former player Leif Shiras will resume play-by-play duties for the network in 2010, working with Tennis Channel’s long-running team of analysts and former players Katrina Adams, Justin Gimelstob, Barry MacKay and Corina Morariu.

“I’m thrilled that it’s springtime in Paris and the French Open is here again,” said Navratilova.  “Everyone wants to see if Rafael Nadal can return to dominance after his disappointing exit last year.  The women’s side is just as interesting, with so many potential winners.  I can’t wait to get back in the Tennis Channel booth and watch it all unfold.”

Davenport, in addition to her appearances during match coverage, will frequently assist on French Open Tonight with Macatee, along with a roster of new contributors.  Legendary tennis writer, analyst, reporter and all-around expert Bud Collins joins the prime-time team this year, as does long-time tennis journalist Jon Wertheim.  Rounding out French Open Tonight will be Cari Champion, anchor of Tennis Channel’s Court Report nightly newscast, and Danielle Dotzenrod, host of health and nutrition series Fit To Hit.  Combined, this group will offer analysis and commentary, and cover the sights and sounds of the tournament grounds, its fans and various on-site activities – with field reports from the surrounding city sprinkled into the mix.

Broadband Coverage

Tennis Channel’s extensive French Open coverage has never been limited to television.  The network will again offer free live and on-demand broadband streams, with close to 125 matches and 200 hours during the first 10 days of the tournament.  Visitors to the network’s site, www.tennischannel.com, will be able to view any one of five courts for the first eight days of the event, followed by a single court on days nine and ten.  The site will also offer interview archives from French Open Tonight, news, live scores, daily highlights, exclusive tournament photos, blogs, columns, sweepstakes information and the network’s “Racquet Bracket” tournament prediction game.

Tennis Channel’s Live 2010 French Open Match Schedule – Entirely in High Definition

(Men’s/Women’s Singles Unless Otherwise Specified)

Date                                        Time (ET)                   Event

Sunday, May 23                       5 a.m.-Noon                First-Round Action

Monday, May 24                     5 a.m.-3 p.m.               First-Round Action

Tuesday, May 25                     5 a.m.-Noon                First-Round Action

Wednesday, May 26                5 a.m.-Noon                Second-Round Action

Thursday, May 27                    5 a.m.-Noon                Second-Round Action

Friday, May 28                        5 a.m.-Noon                Third-Round Action

Saturday, May 29                     5 a.m.-Noon                Third-Round Action

Sunday, May 30                       5 a.m.-Noon                Round of 16 Action

Monday, May 31                     5 a.m.-Noon                Round of 16 Action

Tuesday, June 1                        8 a.m.-Noon                Quarterfinals

Wednesday, June 2                  8 a.m.-Noon                Quarterfinals

Thursday, June 3                      5 a.m.-8 a.m.                Men’s Doubles Semifinals

Tennis Channel will also offer same-day replays of the men’s and women’s singles semifinals:

Thursday, June 3 – 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (ET): women’s singles semifinals

Friday, June 4 – 5 p.m.-midnight (ET): men’s semifinals

Tennis Channel’s French Open Tonight Schedule

French Open Tonight airs Sunday, May 23-Thursday, June 3, and typically runs from 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. ET, and is then repeated twice from 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.-5 a.m.  The following exceptions are ET:

Monday, May 24; Saturday, May 29; and Sunday, May 30 – 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m., followed by 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m., 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.-5 a.m.

Additionally, shortened encore editions of French Open Tonight will air Tuesday, June 1, and Wednesday, June 2, from 5 a.m.-8 a.m.

JOHN MCENROE TO COVER FRENCH OPEN ON TENNIS CHANNEL THROUGH 2013

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LOS ANGELES, May 10, 2010 – Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, has extended its French Open relationship with tennis icon John McEnroe.  The man with one of the best-known faces in televised tennis today will continue his lead analyst’s role during the network’s annual coverage of the event (also known as Roland Garros) through 2013.  The announcement comes just prior to the Hall of Famer’s fourth year in the booth for the channel at the world’s most prestigious clay-court tournament, beginning with the start of play Sunday, May 23.

McEnroe will provide his unique insight, champion’s opinion and overall analysis throughout Tennis Channel’s two-week telecast.  As in years past, he will also contribute to the network’s nightly prime-time show, French Open Tonight, hosted by veteran sports anchor Bill Macatee.  Additionally, McEnroe will offer perspective and commentary with fellow analyst and Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova, herself a mainstay of Tennis Channel’s French Open activity.  The network’s complete 2010 French Open on-air schedule is forthcoming.

“It’s been great representing Tennis Channel since our first French Open broadcast,” said McEnroe. “I’m glad to extend our relationship and am looking forward to getting back into the Roland Garros booth again in May.”

As one of the most recognizable and credible television analysts in tennis today, McEnroe has captivated sports fans since bringing his fiery personality to the pro tennis scene in the late 1970s.  He won 77 singles and 78 doubles titles during his career, including four US Open and three Wimbledon singles championships.  McEnroe won the French Open mixed doubles championship with Mary Carillo in 1977, and reached the tournament’s singles final in 1984.  He is possibly the most dominant Davis Cup player of all time, winning the championship five times as a member of the U.S. team and remains the all-time record holder in U.S. Davis Cup total wins (59 wins vs. 10 losses), singles wins (41-8), ties or rounds played (30), and years played (12).  McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.

McEnroe helped usher in a new era in Grand Slam television during Tennis Channel’s inaugural French Open telecast in 2007.  With round-the-clock match play, action that jumped from court to court, a nightly prime-time recap and interview show, expert analysis from the biggest names in the sport, and free live broadband streams from as many as five daily courts, Tennis Channel left its mark in major tennis coverage and set the standard for the network’s future Grand Slam telecasts of the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

This year Tennis Channel will devote more than 230 hours of programming to the French Open (all in high definition) including live matches, encore replays and highlights via French Open Tonight.  The network will also offer multiple live match streams on its Web site, www.tennischannel.com, as it has since 2007.  2010 is the second year that Tennis Channel will cover all four of tennis’ major competitions.