Tennis Channel to Launch Streaming Tennis Instructional Service
September 19, 2019
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2019 – Tennis Channel will launch a streaming instructional service – Tennis Channel Academy – starting Sept. 20. The free service will offer an extensive library of videos with tips, techniques and strategies for tennis aficionados of all skill levels and be accessed through the network’s free app.
Tennis Channel Academy will provide a wide variety of instructional videos under six categories: Instruction, Doubles, Fitness, Drills, Nutrition and Mental Game. Users will have access to top-level coaching and guidance on all aspects of the game, including forehands and serves (Instruction); return-of-serve poaching (Doubles); pro workouts (Fitness); movement and groundstrokes (Drills); eating healthy and drinks (Nutrition); motivation and brain fitness (Mental Game).
Among those offering pointers in Tennis Channel Academy videos are Hall of Famers Martina Navratilova, Justine Henin and legendary coach Nick Bollettierri. Renowned coach Paul Annacone, who guided all-time greats Pete Sampras and Roger Federer to major championships, also provides on-court guidance for users, as does the most accomplished doubles team of all time, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.
“Tennis Channel Academy lets users access expert advice from some of the most accomplished champions, coaches and fitness specialists in the sport, wherever and whenever they want it,” said John MacDonald, senior vice president, content programming. “We know that many tennis viewers also play the sport recreationally. Creating an on-demand instructional resource for these fans is something we’ve wanted to do for some time and we’re happy to be able to roll it out now. We will continue to expand our instructional content offerings in the months and years to come.”
In addition to Tennis Channel’s library of instructional material, Tennis Channel Academy will offer select content from other online coaching services. Content partners Tennis Evolution, Feel Tennis, Rhabit and Fuzzy Yellow Balls will provide free videos to users of the new streaming service – material that has traditionally existed behind each of their own paywalls. Users will also be able to access additional subscription content from the sites of each of these providers.
Tennis Channel has long been at the forefront of utilizing digital platforms to connect with tennis audiences. In 2007, during its first year of French Open coverage, the network provided multiple court streams for free on its website, along with a mosaic option to watch all television-court matches simultaneously. With the launch of its digital streaming service Tennis Channel Plus in 2014, the network became the first programmer in television to offer authenticated “TV Everywhere” functionality on the same app with an over-the-top (OTT) subscription product. During last month’s US Open the network unveiled the Tennis Channel Podcast Network, a single online destination for listeners of different podcasts dedicated to the sport.