Tennis Channel and PPA Tour Deepen Partnership with 24/7 Streaming Channel
The Tennis Channel and PPA Tour have announced a joint venture aimed at further growing and popularizing professional pickleball in the United States. As part of the partnership, the Tennis Channel will produce all PPA Tour events and have the rights to broadcast the majority of them on its pay-TV network and streaming platforms. Additionally, the collaboration will result in the creation of "pickleballtv," a 24/7 standalone streaming channel that will feature matches and entertainment related to the sport.
Enhanced Production and Media Coverage
The joint venture will allow the Tennis Channel to take the reins on producing content for its own platforms as well as for the PPA Tour's other media partners, including Disney's ESPN, Paramount's CBS, and Prime Video. By ensuring high-quality production and consistency, the partnership aims to attract more media coverage and interest from major networks.
Benefits and Future Prospects
The agreement allows Tennis Channel owner Sinclair to retain the option of an equity stake in Pickleball.com, the parent company of the PPA Tour. The partnership is a 50-50 collaboration, with the PPA Tour providing the capital and the Tennis Channel contributing its production and media expertise. The joint venture is expected to facilitate further media rights deals, leveraging the Tennis Channel's experience in TV carriage negotiations and streaming platform development.
Expanding the Reach of Pickleball
Ken Solomon, Tennis Channel president, views this partnership as a significant moment for pickleball, which he considers to be the nation's sport in many ways. The Tennis Channel already has experience with pickleball, having aired a PPA Tour event in 2021 and expanded its coverage in 2022. Solomon expressed confidence in the sport's growth potential, citing strong pickleball ratings to date and the 25 PPA Tour events scheduled for 2023.
The joint venture will also enable the Tennis Channel to leverage its marketing and advertising capabilities to attract sponsors and advertisers for pickleball, while assuring traditional tennis fans that the network will continue to prioritize live tennis coverage.
In conclusion, the deepening partnership between the Tennis Channel and PPA Tour signifies a significant step forward for professional pickleball. With increased media coverage, production enhancements, and the creation of a dedicated streaming channel, the sport is poised to reach a wider audience and capitalize on its recent surge in popularity.
Tennis Channel and PPA Tour Bolster Partnership with 24/7 Streaming Channel
The Tennis Channel and PPA Tour are strengthening their partnership with a new initiative aimed at expanding the reach of professional pickleball. This collaboration will result in the creation of "pickleballtv," a 24/7 standalone streaming channel dedicated to the sport, marking a significant step in popularizing pickleball in the U.S.
Boosting Production and Media Exposure
This joint venture will see the Tennis Channel producing content for all PPA Tour events, with the rights to broadcast most of them on its pay-TV network and streaming platforms. The goal is to attract more media coverage from major networks by ensuring high-quality production and consistency.
Implications for New Business Ventures
The agreement allows Sinclair, the owner of the Tennis Channel, to retain an option for an equity stake in Pickleball.com, the parent company of the PPA Tour. This 50-50 collaboration could pave the way for future media rights deals and could serve as a blueprint for new businesses seeking to form similar partnerships.
Pickleball's Growing Popularity
Tennis Channel president, Ken Solomon, sees this partnership as a milestone for pickleball, a sport he believes has significant growth potential. The Tennis Channel's experience with pickleball, coupled with strong ratings and numerous scheduled events, suggests a promising future for the sport.
This partnership will also allow the Tennis Channel to use its marketing and advertising prowess to attract sponsors and advertisers for pickleball, indicating potential opportunities for businesses in the advertising and sponsorship sectors.
In sum, the strengthened partnership between the Tennis Channel and PPA Tour could have far-reaching implications for the sport of pickleball and new businesses in the sports and media industries. The creation of a dedicated streaming channel and increased media coverage could lead to a surge in the sport's popularity and open up new opportunities for business ventures.
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