COVERAGE SUCKS

 

I have heard a million different excuses.  None of which make much sense on why they do this.  Rogers had a little more coverage before they cut you out to espn at least till the Quarters.  But Cincy is ridiculous in the third day of coverage 2 hours of old matches (taped).... The tennis channel should change the name to the (surprise & confused scheduled channel)....  Its a joke.  NEVER would i have imagined I would pay 7 bucks extra a month to my already high cable bill to get a channel that bears the name TENNIS but shows speratic matches.... NO USA Davis CUP INSTEAD ~ stupid ass Murphy repeats or ancient repeats of No strings....Or god forbid center court with Chris Myers... THAT back drop SET is pathetic...

TENNIS channel that shows minimal tennis but 16 hours a day of continuous awful re-runs of No strings? This is a travesty...  Perhaps I've become somewhat jaded... I'm sorry I just expected more in 2008, been very patient in the past the last 4 years and have watched ALOT of nonsense on TC.  AT the very least can they get wide screen HD format...

PLEASE tell me whats going on??..  I was at the Legg Mason in dc last year as a volunteer and was able to talk to a couple of espn commentators.... They didn't dis TC but they admitted that the TC network is struggling.

I thought the Toronto coverage was actually pretty good.  But the Cincinnati coverage is AWFUL.  At the beginning of the week, I wasn't even able to tell what time the TTC tournament coverage was on.  The website home page info ("Now Playing" and "Up Next") have been different than the "Full Schedule" which was different than the PDF version, and the DISH onscreen guide didn't show anything at all for Cincinnati.  The worst part is when TTC shares coverage with ESPN. I like ESPN's commentators (especially Cahill and Gilbert) a lot more than TTC commentators.  But during the week ESPN only broadcasts a couple of matches and then TTC just repeats what ESPN showed.  So bascially you get to see 2 or 3 matches, and not evening the best ones.The evening matches are not being broadcast at all.  How can you NOT broadcast a Nadal match?  The system seems senseless and crazy, and cheats viewers out of seeing some of the best matches. 

As to commentators, please get rid of Doug Adler.  He sounds whiny, low energy and sucks the excitement out of every match. 

 

 I really have to say you are absolutely right! Am I the only one that has noticed that they are now claiming to cover a tournament when the only coverage I can find is the final (Brisbane), even crappy coverage is better the no coverage at all.  You are totally right about ESPN coverage, their commentators are soooo much better, to me it seems that the commentators on TTC come across very biased.  The bottom line is, if you call yourself the tennis channel --- cover the tournaments --- as many as you can not just the slams and a few others.

Little has changed over the 5 years on TTC.  Now everyone basically is playing Doha and there is no coverage, ( not even the final.)  Unbelievable.  We just get the same reruns over and over again, and (Hopman Cup?) yikes.  

And they keep advertising this channel as "Home of the Slams"  but if I remember correctly USA (the best coverage ever) and ESPN, (the worst as far as tennis coverage) covered the last slams and all the tennis channel covered was doubles.  No singles.  The advertising as Home of the Slams, is totally misleading. 

If at some point in the next decade they would ever decide to actually cover tennis, as the Golf channel totally covers golf, they might pick up viewers for crying out loud.  I'm clueless as to what is happening with the Australian as far as coverage.  Any chance TTC might actually be there ?? ( for something other than doubles?)

Considering it's not being shown on any other channel, it's the kickoff tournament of the ATP season, and it's got 3 of the top names in tennis  I find it almost shocking that the Qatar Open is not being shown on the Tennis Channel.

I half expected the randomness of it being shown on the FSN Network but not even that.C'mon Tennis Channel - embrace how the fans are thinkin' and get some of the matches that are of interest.

C'mon Murray.  

here's a recent email i sent the tennis channel but never heard back... your comments and discussions are welcomed... 10s Junky Dear Tennis Channel, > > I've been a tennis fan, teaching pro and player now for about 28 years and I waited in anticipation when I got tennis channel last year and I was even more thrilled when I got tennis channel in HD late last year but... here goes... > > ... Your programming is PATHETIC to put it mildly!! > > STOP SHOWING CRAPPY FED CUP MATCHES that have no importance what so ever. JUST STOP IT!!! How about buying the rights to some real classic matches (not the ones that say "Classic" in the top corner but are just more crappy matches)? is there a reason why you cannot purchase the rights even to matches that are 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years ago and show those?!! There is so much rich history in the game and true classic matches but you insist on putting on garbage. What about an Arthur Ashe match or a Rod Laver match or a.... the list goes on and on. Is it that it's too expensive to put this programming on? It sure beats watching the same Agassi story over and over and over again or destination tennis or that putz Murphy. > > It seems that you could do a lot more with the money you're spending by perhaps covering smaller events such as challengers or futures so that people could understand the complexity of making it in the game today (you could have done this during the US Open for example or you could have even purchase the rights to show the qualifying tournament). You could even do a reality show on a new up-and-comer or a has-been trying to come back or anything like that. It's nice to see beach tennis but I'd watch the qualifying or tier 2 and 3 events any day. I would watch tennis channel ALL DAY EVERY DAY if you covered these types of events. WHAT ABOUT ALL THE JUNIOR EVENTS - Easter bowl, etc.?!! Why not buy the rights to covering the 4 majors for the junior events!!!!???? What a great idea that is. Imagine how cool it would be to see the future stars of the game especially when America is starving for new American talent. Wouldn't it be amazing if you were to uncover the future of American tennis and the American public could watch it unfold in front of their eyes? Perhaps you could uncover talent and invest in it yourselves... The point is there are may ways of generating revenue for your channel if you improved the diversity of you programming to include some of the possibilities i'm putting forth here. > > Ever looked at the USTA membership lately?! It's exploded because of the leagues. Have you ever considered showing the league nationals?! (Even 30 minutes) You never even mention anything about this aspect of the game. Is it because this channel is owned by Pete and Andre and they only want ATP and WTA events to be covered? What crap!! 99% of tennis players are not pros. Perhaps you could hold a contest/raffle for each USTA region and pick an event that you'd show. Even 30 minutes would be cool. Heck, I'd watch 3.5 rated players on tennis channel if I knew that someday I'd have a chance to be picked to be seen on tennis channel. How about short news clips every day on the game today at every level? Heck, you could even get video footage from people submitting to your website. That way it doesn't cost you a dime to go to the event and shoot footage. You just need to have a team review, edit, etc. How cool would a show like that be? Think of how membership might grow for the USTA if you were to show average members on the tele!! I'm sure the USTA would advertise more on your channel if that resulted in increased membership (wow, revenue generating ideas!!). > > I just get the feeling you guys just don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tennis is not only about seeing the same pros week in and week out. It's about the diversity, complexity, competition (at any level), fun, business, etc. Why not talk about the business of the game? Drugs in the sport, gambling, the money, etc.? The mind numbing Crap that you guys show is beyond me. It seems as though you're pandering to the 60-somethings to make them feel younger by showing the same Destination Tennis show over and over again. Or are you doing this because you're getting paid by the various venues that you talk about? It's obvious to me that the programming you are showing must be clearly linked to the certain persons who have a controlling stake and/or financial interest in the content you are covering - like INFOMERCIALS!! Come on guys, we're not that dumb!!! Oh and STOP SHOWING THAT STUPID LAS VEGAS IS A GREAT TENNIS TOWN CRAP OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!! Clearly Andre and/or certain ownership in the tennis channel has insisted in putting this garbage on. > > I could go on forever about the tennis channel and how to possibly "fix" the issues I see. I just typed a very long email to you in just 10 minutes without much thought to editing, etc. and clearly I'm passionate about tennis. In fact I thought about a much more formal, thought out approach to this but at this point I don't have a lot of time to waste on this. I've spent MANY hours discussing this with several of my close tennis friends who like me share the passion for the game and frankly believe that you are not doing justice to it or to the sports entertainment industry by putting on the programming you are currently showing. I've had a group of several MBA graduates with marketing background foaming at the mouth when they talk about what the possibilities are for your network. > > Anyway, I could continue but I won't. In fact if I don't see any improvement in programming in the coming months, you can be rest assured I will not promote your product to any of my colleagues, students, teammates, casual tennis fans or anyone who might be interested in tennis. I will cancel my subscription as well. FIX IT NOW FOR THE SAKE OF THE SPORT not to mention the future success of the only tennis channel we've got!!! > 10s Junky Passionate Tennis Channel Fan

I have to also Agree with you but maybe they are going through recession to, or something with executives.. not sure but I wish we knew.

when i first got tennis channel i was jazzed with the idea that i'd get to watch the best players and matches all the time and that there would be some good interviews with players. what happened guys????? i barely even turn on the channel anymore and i was shocked that the latest tourneys haven't been covered. by the way at the hopman cup the story was about safin and safina together, not repeated coverage of the us team losing over and over and over again.

As a supposedly mature adult and teaching pro?  your rant was pathetic.  Short, constructive complaints and advice are taken more into consideration and draw much more interest that what looks like the ravings of a nut case.  That will get you no where.

Secondly as a 60 y.o. 4.5 player, of 25 years, ( and you'll be there one day) you don't seem to get it (if you really are a teaching pro) that older club players vastly outnumber in most cases much younger players. Sure we have juniors , and most "team players are in their 30's to 50's here in S. CA, I don't know any as you put it  "60 somethings" who are interested in Destination Tennis, never mind a thousand reruns.

 

My guess is that Tennis Channel has made the business decision to concentrate its resources on obtaining the rights to the four majors and to covering them live, and as a result doesn't have the resources to devote to lesser tournaments.

i think that is a very good possibility. for a 4-5 year old network to have shared rights with espn to all 4 majors in not cheap. then you add the rights to davis cup, fed cup and the us open series and things start getting expensive.the recession doesnt help either. people are always complaining about how bad the coverage is but if you really think about it what dont they show? all 4 majors either live or will re air whatever isnt, davis cup, fed cup, majority of the top atp and wta tournaments, classic matches (pepsi series) champions series etc...they just got finished airing hopman cup, chennai,brisbane, and sydney (men and women).why they didnt show doha im not sure but they have never aired that event in the past.could be money issue. the only two big events they dont air, and i really wish they would, are indian wells and miami. fsn currently has the rights to those unfortunately. as a tennis player i watch other networks like golf channel, nfl channel, nhl channel, mlb channel etc.. and to be honest their coverage isnt any better. they do have a studio presence, which is nice but how much live action do they have? golf channel only airs the first 2 days of each event that mean nothing. the weekend coverage is always on a different network. the nfl channel has like 4-5 games all year and i dont know what the mlb channel will air. i just wish people would stop bitching and realize that the channel isnt perfect but if you really look at what they do air it is pretty damn good. just my opinion.

 This dearest Tennis Channel is now getting ridiculous.  2 weeks agoyou failed to show any coverage of the first ATP tournament of the year in Doha; this being a tournement with 3 of the worlds top 4 in it, but now you have really taken the biscuit.  Im sitting here in Chicago as a Brit hoping to watch Andy Murray (a player regarded by many in the game as the man to watch this year).  You have billed yourself as the channel to watch with regards to the 4 major championships this year, but I tune it at 6:00pm to find elena dementiava on my screen!!!!!!!???? I understand she is the no 4 seed, but the womens game has been in decline for a while, and on the Rod Laver arena there is a real talent to behold! why the choice in match?  

 

Now i'm not saying that it is wrong to put this match on, but is it not possible to have multi layered programming where the actual viewer / fan at home can choose which game he / she watches?? This is something the BBC have done with wimbledon for years now and is HUGELY successful.  Surely is there anyone out there in the states wanting to watch some ugly russian woman?!

 

Sort it out tennis channel; for the sake of the game and for the sake of your viewers who pay a premium to watch your service.  You supply a product and therefore customers choose whether to buy your product.  if the product is good they will buy or subscribe, but if it sucks (which at the moment it does) they will simply walk away.

 

 

ummm. hello? its called directv. you can choose from 5 different matches.that is why tennis channel is also getting successful.i turned off the murray match cause his opponent retired! and the russian is one of the fav's to win the tourney and is in a tiebreak with some no name. think about it einstein? which match would you show?  people are so clueless.

Why Blast the Tennis Channel.  It seem to me they do a great job.  Everyone doesn't see the big picture.  They have to fill the air time.  Sale spots and try to keep the viewers happy.  Keep the production cost down to stay a float.  This seem it would be very hard to do with being only tennis.  And the other tennis channel is so good.  Dude what other channel.  So set back have a mixed drink and watch an old match and be glade you got it.  If you really want to watch tennis else where you can find it on espn on the little bar at the bottom of the tv about every three days.  I think its right before the nascar up dates.  If anyone got any smack to say im Prince 03 in the racket bracket.  You can see me right on the frist page near the top.  Tennis Channel Rocks!!!

 I think the coverage of the Aussie Open has been good, but would have liked to see more men's matches (but that is just a personal preference).

It would have been nice, for example, if they showed more of the Hewitt-Gonzalez match, which was an exciting 5 setter. But instead they had to show a boring Venus Williams win instead, at the same time Hewitt's match was going on.

Oh well we have plenty of more coverage to go so there will be more exciting matches to watch.