Tennis Channel and the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) have announced the introduction of Pickleballtv (PBTV), an exclusive 24-hour television network dedicated to America’s fastest-growing sport.
Accessible on Amazon Freevee and Fubo, PBTV will feature over 30 live PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball (MLP) team events, original programming, and a weekly studio news show, catering to both professional enthusiasts and the growing community of recreational players.
Live Showcases
Debuting during the PPA Tour National Championships in Dallas, PBTV will predominantly showcase live or encore match coverage, highlighting elite professional players competing at pivotal events.
The programming will include “Getting to Know You” features on the PPA Tour and MLP personalities like Ben Johns, Anna Leigh Waters, and Catherine Parenteau. Additionally, instructional programs will aid amateurs in enhancing their on-court skills, covering various aspects such as serve strategy, dinking, volley drills, midcourt play, backhands, shifting, and overheads.
Future plans for PBTV involve the development of a celebrity pickleball show and a weekly studio news program. Both the PPA Tour and Tennis Channel anticipate PBTV becoming the go-to destination for fans, offering comprehensive coverage of the sport’s remarkable growth.
Generating New Fans
Ken Solomon, president of Tennis Channel, was upbeat about the venture, stating, “Tennis Channel and the PPA Tour are doing something that hasn’t been done before – taking a fast-growing sport in its infancy and attaching an experienced, state-of-the-art media arm to its development in the form of Pickleballtv.”
“We have no doubt that 24/7, consistent, daily coverage of the best players, events, and news on a dedicated pickleball channel will generate new fans and give existing ones a place to call home, thus expanding the sport’s overall reach and global popularity.
We’ve driven massive new awareness with Tennis Channel during the past two decades, and we expect nothing less with this exciting new network and explosive, young pro sport and easy-to-learn, highly addictive grassroots game.”
Jump on board with Pickleball TV 🥒📺, your one-stop network for all things pickle.
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 9, 2023
Now available on Fubo and Freevee | @PPAtour pic.twitter.com/6ZPLG10MEb
Significant Impact
Connor Pardoe, founder and CEO of the PPA Tour, emphasized the significant impact PBTV will have on pickleball’s global popularity:
“The PPA Tour has worked in lockstep with Tennis Channel, and we’re proud to launch Pickleballtv coinciding with the largest tournament in pickleball history.
“There are so many exciting things happening in our sport right now, and the addition of daily media coverage capable of reaching an unprecedented audience for the sport is a watershed moment for pickleball enthusiasts everywhere who want continuous access to a host of unique and innovative content.
“The PPA Tour is home to tremendously gifted athletes who deserve to be household names, and Pickleballtv will facilitate that transition. Prepare to be entertained with a variety of outstanding programming that will take your fandom to new heights!”
Global Expansion
The collaboration between Tennis Channel and the PPA Tour, announced in September, involves a joint venture to expand pickleball globally.
Under this agreement, PPA Tour matches are broadcast live on Tennis Channel’s platforms, with coordination in advertising-sales activities and Tennis Channel producing all PPA Tour events.
Efforts are underway to expand PBTV’s reach, with discussions ongoing with multiple distribution partners.
About The Carvana PPA Tour
The Carvana PPA Tour, as the professional pickleball tour, organizes events and rankings worldwide, awarding substantial annual prize money with equal play and pay.
For further information, visit ppatour.com. Also, see Pro Player Profiles and follow us on social media: Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About Tennis Channel/Sinclair, Inc.
Tennis Channel, owned by Sinclair Inc., stands as the exclusive television-based multiplatform destination for both professional tennis and the tennis lifestyle.
Sinclair Inc. is a diversified media company, operating 185 television stations in 86 markets, including Tennis Channel and other multicast networks.
The company also provides services to regional sports network brands, contributing to its status as a leading provider of local news and sports.
