The Tennis Network, serving as the PPA Tour’s 360-Media Arm, will oversee the production of all events and introduce Pickleballtv, along with its corresponding app and website.
The partnership between these industry leaders will involve collaborative efforts from ad sales teams to tap into the growing sponsorship demand for Pickleball.
A Commercial Partnership
Tennis Channel and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) have established a commercial partnership aimed at pickleball’s national and international growth.
The collaboration will bring about the live broadcast of the majority of PPA Tour matches on Tennis Channel platforms, along with coordinated advertising-sales endeavors for media and tournaments.
Additionally, a 24-hour pickleball channel is set to be launched. Tennis Channel will take charge of the production of all events for the PPA Tour, which stands as the sport’s professional pinnacle, hosting the preeminent male and female pickleball players worldwide, including top-ranked players Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters.
Pickleballtv
The network will collaborate with the PPA Tour to introduce Pickleballtv, an independent pickleball channel initially functioning as a FAST channel, with plans to incorporate streaming live and video-on-demand services.
Distinguished websites and applications dedicated exclusively to the tour will also be developed. Notably, at least 100 live hours of PPA Tour play will be featured annually on Tennis Channel, including its free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel, T2.
Tennis Channel Plus, the network’s subscription streaming service, as well as its website and app, will provide extended access to PPA Tour coverage.
As the producer of all PPA Tour content, Tennis Channel will possess the rights to broadcast every match on the tour, including those not aired live, available for on-demand access.
This ensures that enthusiasts accustomed to viewing matches online on other platforms will continue to do so on Tennis Channel’s website.
This Pivotal Moment
As part of this agreement, Tennis Channel’s parent company, Sinclair Ventures, retains the option to invest in the parent company of the PPA Tour.
Tom Dundon, owner of pickleball.com and the Professional Pickleball Association, was understandably enthusiastic regarding this pivotal moment for the Carvana PPA Tour:
“This is an exciting moment in the ongoing evolution of the Carvana PPA Tour,” he said before going on to add, “There’s no company in the world that’s as well positioned as Tennis Channel to immediately capitalize and expand upon the current pickleball explosion and the early success of the PPA Tour.
“Their model is unique in sportscasting, and we couldn’t be happier to work with them to develop a consistent, reliable home for current pickleball fans and others to come.”
Signature Elements
Both entities will closely collaborate to merge the tour’s year-round premier pickleball competition with the network’s robust media infrastructure, aiming to maximize the PPA Tour’s impact while bolstering the sport’s popularity and participation levels in the United States and internationally.
Tennis Channel will deploy its signature elements such as original storytelling, studio productions, podcast content, social and online engagement, continuous promotion, and round-the-clock discourse tailored for pickleball audiences.
The tour will collaborate with the network to enhance the in-person and on-air experience for consumers. The partnership will also explore the burgeoning sponsorship interest from organizations keen on investing in this increasingly popular sport.
The Tennis Channel and PPA Tour sales teams will also be offering joint packages encompassing the tour, events, and media platforms.
Gold Standard In Pickleball
Ken Solomon, President of Tennis Channel, commended Tom Dundon and PPA Tour CEO Connor Pardoe: “Tom and (PPA Tour CEO Connor Pardoe) and their teams have created the gold standard in pickleball,” he said.
“The future of any sport is driven by its media approach. Tennis Channel has spent two decades streamlining the sheer volume of tennis, its tours, and its schedules in an easy-to-follow system across popular platforms.
“Now we’re going to apply that same hub-and-spoke model to show people how compelling pickleball and its stars are at the professional level.”
Jack Sock And Genie Bouchard
Several active or recently retired professional tennis players, including Grand Slam doubles champion Jack Sock, former WTA No.5 Genie Bouchard, and former ATP No.11 Sam Querrey, have participated or plan to participate in the PPA Tour.
Major League Pickleball (MLP by Margaritaville), the recently merged team league under a united holding company with the PPA Tour, will also receive extensive coverage on Tennis Channel’s platforms.
Noteworthy for its roster of celebrity owners, including Tom Brady, Eva Longoria, and LeBron James, MLP has garnered widespread media attention recently. Former and current tennis luminaries such as Chris Evert, Naomi Osaka, Tennis Channel analyst Tracy Austin, and Nick Kyrgios are also part of MLP ownership groups.
A Surge In Popularity
Pickleball has been an integral part of Tennis Channel’s long-term strategy, coinciding with the sport’s surge in popularity in recent years.
The network initially featured a PPA Tour event in September 2021, subsequently expanding its coverage significantly in 2022, with events broadcast throughout the year.
The 2023 calendar is slated to host 25 PPA Tour events. However, it’s worth noting that Tennis Channel will not air pickleball during time slots designated for live tennis.
The network commemorated its 20th anniversary on May 15.
About Carvana PPA Tour
The Carvana PPA Tour stands as the premier professional pickleball tour, organizing events and rankings for top-tier male and female pickleball players on a global scale.
The tour bestows over $5.5 million in annual prize money, upholding a commitment to equitable play and pay.
The Tour is hosting 25 events in 2023 at renowned venues such as the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Cincinnati, Mission Hills Country Club in California, and the Darling Tennis Center and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Embracing all competitors and inviting them to “play where the pros play,” the Carvana PPA Tour provides amateur divisions of play for every proficiency level.
It also offers unparalleled experiences for fans and spectators, including access to splendid venues, pro-player meet-and-greets, diverse culinary offerings, live entertainment, VIP enhancements, giveaways, shopping, vendors, and more.
Established in 2019, the Carvana PPA Tour is operated by its parent corporation, pickleball.com.
For further details, visit ppatour.com. Explore Pro Player Profiles and stay connected with us on social media platforms: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
For more information, go to ppatour.com. See Pro Player Profiles and follow us on social: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Professional Pickleball, Tennis Channel deepen media partnership https://t.co/puktN3Olff
— Carvana PPA Tour (@PPAtour) September 26, 2023
Tennis Channel
Tennis Channel (tennischannel.com), a subsidiary of Sinclair Inc., represents the sole television-based multiplatform destination dedicated to the professional sport and the tennis lifestyle.
The network boasts the most comprehensive single-sport coverage on television for one of the world’s most extensive sports, featuring numerous men’s and women’s tournaments and competitions in singles, doubles, and mixed formats throughout the year.
Tennis Channel holds exclusive rights to the four major championships – the US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open), and Australian Open.
It serves as the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for all men’s ATP World Tour and women’s WTA Tour competitions, along with Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, and Laver Cup.
The direct-to-consumer streaming service Tennis Channel Plus is accessible to all in the United States, allowing subscribers to choose from an additional 4,500 live and on-demand matches, along with award-winning content spanning from short-form features to full-length films throughout the tennis season.
Tennis Channel International extends live competition and network content to markets in Europe and Asia via digital subscription and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels.
Moreover, the extensive platform tennis.com stands as the largest digital outlet devoted to the sport. Tennis Channel also oversees a network of nearly 20 podcasts.
About Sinclair, Inc.
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and leading local news and sports provider.
The Company owns, operates, and provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, and TBD; and owns and provides services to 21 regional sports network brands.
Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors and the nation’s largest local news content streaming aggregator, NewsON.
The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information, which can be accessed at sbgi.net.
