Tennis Channel From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Tennis Channel Launched May, 2003 Owned by Independent Picture format 480i (SD) 1080i (HD) Country United States Broadcast area National Headquarters Santa Monica, California Website tennischannel.com Availability Satellite DirecTV Channel 217 (SD/HD) Dish Network Channel 400 Cable Available on many cable systems Check local listings IPTV over ADSL Sky Angel Channel 324 Tennis Channel is an American digital cable television channel with programming devoted to the game of tennis. Founded in 2003, the network is owned by a group of investors including sports marketing firm IMG. Well known tennis professionals Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi are two of the many investors in this channel. The network's CEO is Ken Solomon. It broadcasts out of Union City, New Jersey and is based in Santa Monica, CA. Contents [hide] 1 Description and programming 2 Grand Slam coverage 3 Original series 4 See also 5 External links 6 References [edit] Description and programming The network broadcasts 24 hours a day and features live tournaments, news, one-on-one interviews, game analysis and skills instruction. It also features programming from other racquet sports such as squash, badminton, racquetball, table tennis and paddle tennis. The Tennis Channel has extensive coverage of the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and Hopman Cup as well as other tournaments throughout the year. The Tennis Channel obtained the U.S. broadcast rights to the French Open, broadcasting them for the first time in 2007. The Tennis Channel also puts on an ATP tournament in Las Vegas called the Tennis Channel Open. As of March 1, 2007, The Tennis Channel is available across the United States from most cable providers and on Dish Network. In April, 2007, the Tennis Channel reached an agreement to be carried on DirecTV. The agreement included a free preview of the 2007 French Open to all DirecTV subscribers. Full carriage of the Tennis Channel by DirecTV was added as channel 217 on August 27, 2007. The network launched a 1080i High Definition version in December 2007 named Tennis Channel HD. [edit] Grand Slam coverage Tennis Channel scored a significant coup in August 2006, when it was announced that it had procured the U.S. cable television rights for the French Open beginning in 2007. [1] These rights were previously held by ESPN2 and prior to that, USA Network. Tennis fans and The Tennis Channel are hoping that such a prestigious event will encourage additional viewership of the channel as now available on many cable systems, Dish Network, and DirecTV. In January 2007, The Tennis Channel gained rights for coverage of The Australian Open. The Tennis Channel will now share rights to the Australian Open with ESPN2. Both the Australian Open and French Open contracts with ESPN2 run through 2011. [2] In July 2007, Tennis Channel secured the broadcast rights for Wimbledon through a multi-year deal with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, the governing body of the most prestigious tournament in all of tennis. [3] Tennis Channel completed its acquisition of broadcasting rights for all four Grand Slams with the signing of a multi-year deal with ESPN2 to share the rights for the US Open, starting in 2009. [4] [edit] Original series ATP Tennis Book of Tennis Chronicles Center Court Charity Jam Destination Tennis Match Makers MatchPoint America Murphy's Guide No Strings Open Access Real Life on the WTA Tennis Insiders Inside Tennis with the Koz [edit] See also List of DirecTV channels List of Dish Network channels The Ski Channel (A new network from the founder of Tennis Channel, Steve Bellamy) [edit] External links Official Site Official Tournament Site [edit] References [hide]v • d • eSports television in the United States Broadcast divisions CBS Sports • ESPN on ABC • Fox Sports • NBC Sports National networks ESPN • ESPN2 • ESPN Classic • ESPNEWS • Fox Sports Net • Versus Specialty networks Big Ten Network • CBS College Sports Network • ESPNU • Fox College Sports • Fox Soccer Channel • Fuel TV • GOL TV • Horse Racing TV • MLB Network • MountainWest Sports Network • NBA TV • NFL Network • NHL Network • Setanta Sports North America • The Ski Channel • Speed • Outdoor Channel • Golf Channel • Tennis Channel • TVG Network Occasional broadcasts HBO • ION Television • MyNetworkTV • PBS • Sci Fi Channel • Showtime • Spike • TBS • TNT • USA Network • WGN America Regional sports networks 4SD • Altitude Sports and Entertainment • Bright House Sports Network • Buckeye Cable Sports Network • • Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast • Comcast SportsNet • Comcast Television (Michigan) • Cox Sports (New England) • Cox Sports TV (New Orleans) • Fighting Sioux Sports Network • Fox Sports Net • Metro Sports • Mid-Atlantic Sports Network • MSG Network • MSG Plus • New England Sports Network • Oregon Sports Network • SportsNet New York • SportSouth • SportsTime Ohio • Sun Sports • Time Warner Cable SportsNet (Upstate New York) • Time Warner Cable Sports 32 • YES Network Syndicators America One • ESPN Plus • Raycom Sports Spanish language ESPN Deportes • Fox Sports en Español Broadband services ESPN360 • Universal Sports • Horizon League Network Defunct networks American Sports Classics • Carolinas Sports Entertainment Television • CNN Sports Illustrated • Empire Sports Network • Football Network • Mizlou Television Network • NewSport • ON-TV • PRISM • SCORE • SportsChannel America • SportsChannel Los Angeles • Sports Time • TVS Television Network • Prime Network • PASS Sports • Royals Sports Television Network • Victory Sports One • World Championship Sports Network Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_Channel" Categories: Tennis media | HD channels | American television networks | Private equity portfolio companies