Tennis Channel Programs

Indian Wells coverage-lack of

shersher — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:34:54 GMT

What happened to the coverage of Indian Wells? Why did I pay comcast for the Tennis Channel if you don't show current matches? Am I the only one who does not care to see classis tennis when I could be watching the current matches? I know FSS showed some matches, like 2 hours a night, and no women,double or mixed double matches. If there is no coversge of the Miami matches consider 1 lost subscriber!!

New Programming (Table Tennis, Racquetball, etc)

nadamson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:50:09 GMT

I really like how you are putting in some effort to show some fresh content rather than the thousands of reruns you were boring me with. I do especially like how you are showing programming from other racquet sports! The Table Tennis is awesome!! I have been waiting for this for some now. Keep it up Tennis Channel!!!

Indian Wells Coverage

longst — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:48:27 GMT

Besides trhe first weekend does anyone know what the coverage will be for the rest of the 2 weeks??? I read somewhere that ESPN2 is no longer doing it....

Indian Wells Coverage - ATP/WTA

atlbsb — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:53:19 GMT

What's up with today's coverage? Over six hours into your coverage, I haven't seen any women's matches whatsoever.

ATP/WTA Programming

Valeras — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:44:01 GMT

Does anyone know why TCC showed only men's coverage of the Mexican Open event. I would certainly been more interested in seeing Venus Williams' final than Almagro vs. Monfils. Is there some prejudice against women's events with TCC or is it a matter of the WTA putting up the money or what?

2009 Davis Cup coverage

susanna28 — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:35:07 GMT

Why isn't TTC showing Spain-Serbia this week? Last year TTC broadcast several different ties during the same week . This year it's only US-Switzerland. Especially with Federer out, Spain-Serbia (ie Nadal v Djokovic) will be so much more exciting. Why not broadcast both?

MCENROE's INEXCUSABLE SENIOR TOUR BEHAVIOR

FloridaTao — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:23:01 GMT

I find John McEnroe’s behavior to be inexcusable on the Senior Tour. I didn’t know a better place on the website to write this, so I thought I’d find the closest related area. I’m sorry about this, everyone. But I just can’t justify Mac’s behavior in a tour that is not even the main ATP Tour. I mean for Pete’s sake, the players on the Seniors have already proven themselves with stellar pro careers. You have also done that, John - so much talent, so many grand slam titles in singles and doubles.

Sure, that doesn’t mean that the Seniors players are not competitive and don’t want to settle some scores. They do. But they are clearly also enjoying themselves in a way that they couldn’t when there was far more pressure, and far more prestigious titles at stake back in their ATP/Pro Tour days.

So why do you waste your energy like this, John? What the heck is this? It's stupid and pointless, that's what it is. For example, why do you act this way during the second set of your match with Jim Courier at the Surprise tournament, wasting yours and the fan’s time, while you whine on the sidelines? Is it really worth it? EARTH TO JOHN MCENROE: THIS IS NOT THE ATP TOUR. THIS IS NOT THE FINALS OF A GRAND SLAM. PLEASE DEAL WITH IT AND GET OVER IT.

And do you really believe that fans are all that drawn to your antics? I feel sorry for the fan that goes to a Seniors event because they just can’t wait for a McEnroe outburst to brighten up their day. Those aren't real tennis fans. They're drama queens. I don’t know about those people - but I watch these matches for one thing. THE TENNIS. Not fodder for the drama queens.

A sad reign at TC demeans a great sport

argonaut — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:39:31 GMT

Since I pay for this channel and am a tennis player and decades-long fan, I think I have a right to criticize the pathetic tennis coverage offered on TC. I can sympathize with its
management re the economy and consequent advertising budget shortfalls, if they were not so obviously stupid. i.e., showing the Tsonga/Chardy SA Tournament match at least 20 times, with no coverage of any other matches. TC has evolved into a Tsonga-promo channel, which does no favors for Tsonga and certainly none for TC. The entire season is out except for lacklustre Fed Cup, racquetball (!!!) and some WTA. ESPN 2 has the slams in hand, though I suppose there will be some doubles coverage as in 2008. Again, if these people were true tennis aficionados and not, allegedly, politico-investors, I would sympathize. I cannot. You are doing a disservice to a great sport. Why would any premier advertiser stay with you? Close shop or elect management that is into the game. You, yourselves, do not have a clue, witness, as well, your limp commentators, with the exception of Martina Navratilova, who seems to have wandered in unaware.

TV Announcers

DC Tennis Fiend — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:07:54 GMT

I realize that very few TV announcers/commentators can discuss a match as well as, say, Martina or McEnroe... but PLEASE have the commentators stop repeating the players' names incessantly during a match. I was just listening to one of the Acapulco games by Almagro and every second sentence repeated his name! I finally had to turn the sound off... in truth, most of the commentators would do everyone a favor if they just said nothing unless and until they have something worthwhile to say (announcing the score point-by-point does not qualify as worthwhile). But we know that's never going to happen :)

Barclay Dubai cancellation

nerissa — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:46:39 GMT

Hi All, I don't know if anyone saw this from UPI.com but it just makes me mad!!! Why is the tennis channel putting their nose in this conflict? You owe us subscribers this coverage and this is not acceptable. Why do we have to worry about an Israeli player when you have millions of subscribers paying you for the coverage that we deserve? to watch our favorite players? Can management please answer this nonsense? ____________________________________ Tennis Channel to skip Dubai telecast Published: Feb. 17, 2009 at 1:48 AMOrder reprints | Feedback People who read this also read ... A. Radwanska upset by U. Radwanska NEW YORK, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The Tennis Channel said it would not televise the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships because the host nation denied an entry visa to an Israeli player. After the United Arab Emirates refused to grant a visa to Shahar Peer, Tennis Channel Chairman and Chief Executive Ken Solomon told The New York Times (NYSE:NYT) the channel -- based in Santa Monica, Calif. -- would not televise the tournament in Dubai. "This is an easy decision to come by, based on what is right and wrong," Solomon told the Times from Utah. "Sports are about merit, absent of background, class, race, creed, color or religion. They are simply about talent." Solomon called the UAE decision "a classic case, not about what country did what to another country. If the state of Israel were barring a citizen of an Arab nation, we would have made the same decision." The $2 million tournament is one of a package of international tournaments whose TV rights the Tennis Channel acquired from the WTA Tour. The draw features nine of the world's top 10 ranked women players. Peer, ranked No. 48, had been scheduled to play Russian Anna Chakvetadze in the first round. WTA Tour Chairman and Chief Executive Larry Scott told the Times he had not expected the Tennis Channel to cancel its telecast but he said he understood. "I'm sorry it was in the position of having to make the decision," Scott said. "We've got some of the same feelings but many more complications." © 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Stop showing the Las Vegas Tournament

nicknack — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:03:26 GMT

the tournament doesn't even exsist anymore, it's been sold. Stop showing it and also Fed Cup matches. Who cares about Fed Cup from 2 years ago. Why not show Rotterdam, San Jose or Memphis, I don't get it...............................

Airtimes Currently Not Available

ChezChell — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:47:45 GMT

OK, am I the only one who's going a bit nuts here? I keep checking the the TC Website under tournaments (TV schedule) and it shows me the upcoming tournaments but when I click on the link, it's always the same message "Airtimes Not Currently Availale. Check Back Soon" This is more than reasonable when the tournament is a a week or two off, but DURING the tournament? They were great about this feature last year, so what happened?

I was thrilled to see a channel dedicated to just tennis but if I can never find out WHEN they'll be showing a tournament - what's the point. I'd love to say I can sit and surf through the guide on my TV or scan the hourly guide on TC's website daily, but I DO have other things to do.

vertigo?

tennisgranny — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:48:20 GMT

I've been watching the GDZ Suez coverage, and I have to ask: Why does the videographer keep holding the camera at an angle? Does someone think this is artistic? It's really disorienting for the horizon to be on the diagonal and it's driving me crazy.

COVERAGE SUCKS

Malcolm — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:44:50 GMT

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.

Martina Should Stay Behind the Scenes

tennis4eva — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:22:33 GMT

No one doubts that Martina is an amazing champion and athlete but her commentary during the matches and during the points was very distracting. This is the first match that I found myself using the mute button during the matches, just so I did not have to hear Martina's rambling. I particularly think it is very disrespectful to talk during points and can't understand why Martina was not more aware and respectful--to the players, most importantly, and to the avid fans who pay for this extended coverage.

Requesting/Ranking classic matches

chillyice9 — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:18:32 GMT

One thing that I really like about Tennis Channel is that they replay some classic matches from the past. For example, last year before the australian and french open they replayed old matches (like the sampras v. courier from aussie open 1995, or agassi winning the french open in 1999). Also, when Nadal became number 1, they replayed all the federer v. nadal matches. I'm wondering if Tennis Channel could come up with a way to take requests for classic matches. I think people definitely want to see some old matches and relive some of those memories. It'll be cool if they devoted a page in the website to classic matches. Just a suggestion. Hopefully other people agree and maybe Tennis Channel will listen. (Instead of all the Destination Tennis, replay the classics)

dimwit commentators calling the nadal-simon semifinal

ron fryer — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:47:54 GMT

Enduring the two Tennis Channel nitwits who were announcing the Nadal-Simon semifinal convinced me it is better to turn the sound off when they are involved in announcing a match. I don't know their names, but they both have accents (British? Australian? South African?). They weren't even subtle in their bias in favor of Nadal, as though he was some sort of invincible god. They counted Simon out with their repeated use of the word "inevitable" to describe their belief that Nadal would win. They acted like Simon was some sort of hack who had no business being out there on the same court with Nadal. Prior to this tournament, Simon had won three other events. He beat Federer in August, and he'll be ranked ten in the world after this tournament. With this win, he beat two different top-ranked players in the world in the same year; a feat not accomplished since Rainer Schuettler beat Roddick and Agassi in 2003. They continually harped on him being tired. Serving at 1-2 in the second set they claimed it was "at the stage in the second set" that nadal would be expected to "put his foot to the floor" and claimed nadal could "sense as we do" that "one break of serve surely would be enough in this second set. Simon looks exhausted. He's hanging on in there, but only just." He went on, "You can feel it coming, really. A resigned look from the Frenchman's camp." Even after Simon dug out of a 0-40 hole on his serve and went on to hold serve and tie it at 2-2 in the second, the announcer said, "Is he just delaying the inevitable?" After Nadal then held serve and was up 3-2 in the second, the announcer says, "I think there's just a feeling of inevitability about this match." Considering he went to three sets in the four previous matches before Nadal, I suppose he had a right to be tired. Even still, this "tired" Frenchman made it to the semis just like Nadal and then beat Nadal who had lost only once before in 73 matches after taking the first set. Nadal had not lost a third-set tiebreaker since Cincinnati three years ago. And he beat him in Madrid! Even after Simon had taken the second set they still wouldn't give him his due. On serve and serving at 1-2 in the third set, the dimwit announcer says, "I guess the big question we're all asking and have been asking for the last hour and a half really, is how long can Simon keep this up?" The fool then claimed it was the Spanish crowd rooting for Nadal that "must have inspired" Simon to win the second set. During one amazing rally at 2-3 with Simon serving in the third, Nadal lost the point hitting the ball wide. The announcer shouted, "Oh he missed it! What a shame!" Nothing about how great Simon's shotmaking was. Can't you find some announcers that call a match fairly and without bias? These two fools couldn't even recognize what fabulous tennis they were witnessing from Simon, or if they did recognize it they weren't about to give him his due. What a different match it was to observe if you took those dimwit announcers out of it by turning the sound down.

Gimelstob worst commentator

topperla — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:28:37 GMT

I had to change channels. Could not listen to this guy. I think there needs to be a rule for tennis commentators...I think they need to have one a singles grandslam title before they can talk about players. How can Gimestob talk about John Isners mobility? give me a break. Corina is no better either...she makes these little snide remarks through a childish giggle. This coverage is dissapointing as I just watched Conners being interviewed and he was talking about the exact thing in describing why he joined the channel. Please tennis channel...pull the amatures and let the professionals on air. Thank You.

Coverage of Australian Open

MurielFrench — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:19:16 GMT

3 Things - Coverage of the Nadal/Verdasco match was so biased and distracting. Verdasco played super and not until the very end did the announcers (particularly Martina) give him credit for anything. It ruined the enjoyment of the match (which was very entertaining and competitive to the end). Breaking to commercial between points in the Nadal/Federer match was inexcusable. Not having a wrap up after the match was over was such a let down. Your coverage and commentating needs quite a lot of improvement. Let us enjoy the matches.

Defending Martina

realmeows — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 21:27:30 GMT

Regarding all the negative reviews of Martina Navratilova's commentary at the Australian Open, I believe that this is more about style than substance. Yes, Martina can be too talkative and ramble sometimes. However, she is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest athletes of all time. She has the experience, knowledge, and credibility in the tennis world to qualify her as a commentator. Yes, the ESPN hosts are excellent. But keep in mind that most of the ESPN crew are professional sportscasters who have been doing this for decades. Martina is still relatively new in broadcasting, and she only calls matches four times a year for the Grand Slams. She doesn't have as much practice as seasoned commentators like Bill Macatee, *** Enberg, or Patrick McEnroe who have been sportscasting for many more years and thus are more polished and poised in their presentations.

Doubles Final Match

gdavidson — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 03:05:01 GMT

The commentators for the doubles match were excellent. Justin Gimelstob especially added many interesting, knowledgable, comments. I don't think commentating from the court is needed. It was very difficult to hear. Overall though, a great job covering the match!

Music

akeefe09 — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:37:36 GMT

Does anyone know the song used during the Australian Open? They're is one in particular that was really good, usually when commentators were naming sponsors, it had a kind of bright electric guitar sound, really good.

Australian Open 2009

sjmitch — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:30:11 GMT

Your programing for the Women Final is so not fair. Your programing time was off. It was suppose to start at 6 am est and did not air at all. What time will it really play? Men doubles played not women final. Please, work on the better programing. Thanks

How can you call yourselves "home of the slams"?

jbwallis — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:40:26 GMT

How can you call this channel the home of the slams when all you have are reruns, a very stupid tall blonde, and even stupider male, and oldie events?

You should call this channel the home of the stupids and lies

Live Matches VS Taped Matches

LADA — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:01:05 GMT

I am a little bit frustrated with The Tennis Channel right now. I pay extra money to have this so I can watch matches that are not on the regular cable stations (Like ESPN2). This morning I really wanted to see the Safina vs. Dokic match on the Tennis Channel LIVE but instead the Roddick vs Djokovic TAPED match was being broadcasted. This seems unfair to me and it seems as if they feel the Men's matches are more important. Anyone who was watching and who follows tennis already knew the results of last nights match. SO why not show the live coverage of the women? Instead I read the results online and will probably have to watch the taped broadcast later today. I just don't get it.