Latest news with #JeffBlackburn
NBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Women's Tennis Association extends media rights deal with Tennis Channel through 2032
The Tennis Channel is extending its deal with the Women's Tennis Association that will see the cable TV network and streaming service continue to broadcast more than 2,000 matches each season. While terms of the deal weren't disclosed, Tennis Channel CEO Jeff Blackburn told CNBC in an interview there was a 'pretty big step up in our payments' to the WTA for the U.S. media rights, which includes international tournaments and the WTA Finals event. The new agreement lasts through 2032. 'Our goal and mission is to just cover pro tennis and the game of tennis like no one else, every day, every hour, all year round. There's no offseason,' Blackburn said. 'WTA plays a huge role in that and it was a big priority for me to make sure that we renewed our relationship and extend it as long term as we were able.' The exclusive rights renewal comes as the Tennis Channel is in the midst of a transition on several fronts. Last year, longtime Tennis Channel CEO Ken Solomon was ousted from the company. Blackburn stepped into the role in early May, following a 24-year career at Amazon, where he helped to build out Prime Video and expand the streaming service into sports, among other businesses. Meanwhile, Sinclair, the owner of broadcast stations as well as the Tennis Channel, had recently considered offloading the network, CNBC previously reported. The parent company, however, is no longer exploring a sale of the Tennis Channel, particularly since Blackburn has taken the helm, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic details. In the backdrop, the Tennis Channel, like its network peers, is contending with the continued loss of customers from the pay-TV bundle. While live sports garner the biggest audiences — and leagues have reaped huge rights payouts as a result — media companies are focused on growing the profitability of their streaming businesses. In 2014 the 24/7 tennis network took its first step into streaming with Tennis Channel Plus, and later in 2022 introduced Tennis Channel 2, a free, ad-supported streaming channel. While Blackburn said Tennis Channel 2 has been successful and attracted a younger audience, he is focused on beefing up the Tennis Channel's recently launched direct-to-consumer streaming app. The app, which launched in November 2024, costs $9.99 a month or $109.99 annually and offers the same programming as the pay-TV network. Media companies are increasingly offering the same live sports featured on pay-TV networks on their counterpart streaming alternatives — most notably with the launch of Disney's flagship ESPN app later this year. 'What's important about the partnership is that they're committing to doing more with us,' said Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, the commercial arm of the WTA. 'They're committed to that increased exposure across all of their platforms. They're committed to ensuring this kind of equal exposure for women and men, where they have the rights. And they're making a significant commitment. There is a substantial increase in the rights fees, which is a big milestone for us as part of our plan and commitment to growing.' The Tennis Channel's agreement with the WTA covers a large swath of the WTA's tournaments outside of North America through the season-closing WTA Finals. The audience for WTA events on the Tennis Channel has been growing, particularly among the younger demographic. Viewership among 18- to 34-year-olds on the Tennis Channel has grown annually for each of the past two years, according to a news release. 'Equal footing' The deal comes as American female tennis players have shot to the top of global rankings and women's sports in general have seen a rise in popularity and investment funding. Already in 2025, two American women have won two of the top majors: Madison Keys took the Australian Open in January, and Coco Gauff was crowned the winner of the French Open in June. Gauff and Keys will be among the participants at Wimbledon, which kicks off on Monday. 'Tennis is really the only major sport where the men's and women's game is on equal footing, and that's really important,' said Blackburn. 'I think for tennis it makes it unique. The growth of women's sports overall? Maybe basketball and soccer will get there, but I think tennis is way ahead in terms of providing that for the fan.' The Tennis Channel 2 free streaming option has earmarked every Tuesday as 'Women's Day' — showing only women's match coverage — and Blackburn highlighted the network's roster of heavy-hitting female talent, including former players and Hall of Famers Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport, among others. The deal extension also builds on WTA Ventures' recent efforts to grow its commercial revenue and build the profiles of its athletes. In 2023 the WTA formed a strategic partnership with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, which invested $150 million for a 20% stake in the newly created WTA Ventures. The entity was formed to focus on growing commercial revenue through sponsorships and media rights deals, with the goal of tripling its revenue by 2029. In 2024 WTA Ventures said it expected to increase revenue by 24% in its first full year. The media rights extension marks the first renegotiation with the Tennis Channel under the WTA Ventures framework. The WTA's long-standing media rights deal with streaming service DAZN expires at the end of next year, and talks have begun for new deals that would begin in 2027, said Storti. WTA Ventures said its global audience surpassed 1 billion viewers on broadcast and streaming last season, and Storti said the U.S. is among one of the WTA's biggest growth markets, along with China and Poland. 'We are a completely mass-market product that attracts hundreds of millions of fans across the world, and I would say we deliver a product that stands kind of shoulder to shoulder with the men counterpart,' Storti said. The WTA has also recently emphasized improvements for players. This year it's has announced a paid maternity leave funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, as well as a new policy allowing players to protect their rankings during fertility treatments Still, tennis is not without its issues of disparity. While the U.S. Open awarded equal prize money to men and women beginning in 1973, it was decades ahead of Wimbledon and other majors. And while equal prize money is given at the majors level, there's still a considerable pay gap at lower-level tournaments. The sport also drew criticism around the 2025 French Open when the majority of prime-time slots went to men's matches.
Business Wire
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Six-year deal between WTA Ventures and Tennis Channel brings increased investment and exposure for women's tennis
ST PETERSBURG, Fla. & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WTA Ventures and Tennis Channel have agreed to a new six-year media rights deal ensuring that Tennis Channel platforms will continue to be the exclusive home of WTA tennis in the United States through 2032. As a result of the significant new commitment, the drama and entertainment of the Hologic WTA Tour will be available to tennis fans across the United States through Tennis Channel, its streaming network TennisChannel 2, its app and website The deal covers all WTA 1000, 500 and 250 events (except tournaments in the United States) through to the season-closing WTA Finals where the world's best singles players and doubles teams battle to be crowned as year-end champions. (The network covers women's events in the United States through other rights contracts.) Following the new agreement, WTA Ventures and Tennis Channel will work together to continue to enhance and innovate coverage of women's tennis, engaging fans and promoting the game to new audiences. These combined efforts will build on the launch of the WTA's bold new brand identity and the strong growth of women's tennis in the United States, where live WTA viewership on Tennis Channel continues to grow in 2025 on top of the prior increase in 2024. This positive trend includes spectacular growth among younger audiences, with live WTA viewership among 18-34s up annually since 2023. With four U.S. players currently in the top 10 of the PIF WTA Singles Rankings, including 2024 WTA Finals Riyadh champion Coco Gauff, the profile of women's tennis has benefited from Tennis Channel's Women's Day programming since June 2024, with every Tuesday dedicated exclusively to women's competition on TennisChannel 2, which is widely available throughout the United States for free. Under the new deal, Tennis Channel will continue to broaden exposure and ensure parity of coverage between the women's and men's tours, as well as increase distribution as part of its strategic growth and expansion across digital and streaming platforms, led by its new Chairman and CEO Jeff Blackburn. Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, said: 'The U.S. is a hugely significant market for the WTA and we are excited to be partnering with Tennis Channel to bring six more seasons of brilliant tennis to fans across all its platforms. Tennis Channel has shown a strong commitment to the WTA through this agreement, and we have a shared ambition to continue to deepen audience engagement and grow the impact of women's tennis. By securing a multi-year investment from a valued strategic partner, this deal is a significant milestone for WTA Ventures as we continue to execute our strategy to achieve a step change in the commercial value of women's tennis.' 'The WTA has been an important part of Tennis Channel since our first days on air. We couldn't be happier to extend this partnership into the next decade,' said Blackburn. 'Women's tennis is one of the most thrilling products in sports and the tour has never been stronger than it is right now. Tennis Channel looks forward to developing innovative ways to attract and entertain new fans — and to keep building on this momentum with Marina and her team.' IMG acted as an advisor to WTA Ventures through the deal process. About the WTA The WTA is the original game-changer for women's sport. Founded in 1973 by the visionary Billie Jean King, the WTA was created to build equal opportunities for women in tennis, and we've been breaking boundaries ever since. Today we're the powerhouse of women's professional sports, uniting athletes in fearless competition and bringing people together through the love of tennis. The Hologic WTA Tour shares the thrill of every serve, rally and match point with an audience of more than one billion around the world. Players compete for PIF WTA ranking points in tournament arenas on six continents before the season hits its peak at the WTA Finals, where the best singles and doubles superstars battle to be crowned as year-end champions. Our ambitions go well beyond the court. We are champions for our 1,600 incredible athletes and drivers of change through advocacy and action for women's health and empowerment across the globe. Rally the world: WTA Ventures, the commercial arm of the WTA, has a mission to fuel the growth of professional women's tennis. Established in partnership with CVC Capital Partners in 2023, it aims to further elevate the profile of women's tennis, improve the product for fans and accelerate commercial growth for the benefit of players, tournaments and everyone involved in the sport. In its first full year of operation, WTA Ventures increased revenue by 25%, setting a new record for the WTA's commercial revenue. About Tennis Channel Tennis Channel ( and its sibling network TennisChannel 2, which are owned by Sinclair, Inc., are the only television-based multiplatform destinations dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle. The networks have the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television in one of the world's most voluminous sports, with multiple men's and women's tournaments and singles, doubles and mixed competition throughout the year. Tennis Channel and TennisChannel 2 are the exclusive U.S. homes of all men's ATP World Tour and women's WTA Tour competitions, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, and Laver Cup. The network's app and website house a direct-to-consumer streaming service with the traditional television network and 10,000 hours of live and on-demand matches beside original content. Tennis Channel International brings live competition and network content to markets in Europe and Asia via digital subscription and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. Additional platform is the largest digital outlet dedicated to the sport. Tennis Channel is also a co-owner of Pickleballtv, a joint venture with the Professional Pickleball Association. About Sinclair: Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates, and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 85 markets affiliated with all major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel, the premium destination for tennis enthusiasts; multicast networks CHARGE, Comet, ROAR and The Nest; and the nation's largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. Sinclair's AMP Media produces a growing portfolio of digital content and original podcasts. Additional information about Sinclair can be found at
CNBC
25-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Women's Tennis Association extends media rights deal with Tennis Channel through 2032
The Tennis Channel is extending its deal with the Women's Tennis Association that will see the cable TV network and streaming service continue to broadcast more than 2,000 matches each season. While terms of the deal weren't disclosed, Tennis Channel CEO Jeff Blackburn told CNBC in an interview there was a "pretty big step up in our payments" to the WTA for the U.S. media rights, which includes international tournaments and the WTA Finals event. The new agreement lasts through 2032. "Our goal and mission is to just cover pro tennis and the game of tennis like no one else, every day, every hour, all year round. There's no offseason," Blackburn said. "WTA plays a huge role in that and it was a big priority for me to make sure that we renewed our relationship and extend it as long term as we were able." The exclusive rights renewal comes as the Tennis Channel is in the midst of a transition on several fronts. Last year, longtime Tennis Channel CEO Ken Solomon was ousted from the company. Blackburn stepped into the role in early May, following a 24-year career at Amazon, where he helped to build out Prime Video and expand the streaming service into sports, among other businesses. Meanwhile, Sinclair, the owner of broadcast stations as well as the Tennis Channel, had recently considered offloading the network, CNBC previously reported. The parent company, however, is no longer exploring a sale of the Tennis Channel, particularly since Blackburn has taken the helm, according to a person familiar with the matter. In the backdrop, Tennis Channel, like its network peers, is contending with the continued loss of customers from the pay-TV bundle. While live sports garner the biggest audiences — and leagues have reaped huge rights payouts as a result — media companies are focused on growing the profitability of their streaming businesses. In 2014 the 24/7 tennis network took its first step into streaming with Tennis Channel Plus, and later in 2022 introduced TennisChannel 2, a free, ad-supported streaming channel. While Blackburn said TennisChannel 2 has been successful and attracted a younger audience, he is focused on beefing up the Tennis Channel's recently launched direct-to-consumer streaming app. The app, which launched in November 2024, costs $9.99 a month or $109.99 annually and offers the same programming as the pay-TV network. Media companies are increasingly offering the same live sports featured on pay-TV networks on their counterpart streaming alternatives — most notably with the launch of Disney's flagship ESPN app later this year. "What's important about the partnership is that they're committing to doing more with us," said Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, the commercial arm of the WTA. "They're committed to that increased exposure across all of their platforms. They're committed to ensuring this kind of equal exposure for women and men, where they have the rights. And they're making a significant commitment. There is a substantial increase in the rights fees, which is a big milestone for us as part of our plan and commitment to growing." The Tennis Channel's agreement with the WTA covers a large swath of the WTA's tournaments outside of North America through the season-closing WTA Finals. The audience for WTA events on the Tennis Channel has been growing, particularly among the younger demographic. Viewership among 18- to 34-year-olds on the Tennis Channel has grown annually for each of the past two years, according to a news release. The deal comes as American female tennis players have shot to the top of global rankings and women's sports in general has seen a rise in popularity and investment funding. Already in 2025, two American women have won two of the top majors: Madison Keys took the Australian Open in January, and Coco Gauff was crowned the winner of the French Open in June. Gauff and Keys will be among the participants at Wimbledon, which kicks off on Monday. "Tennis is really the only major sport where the men's and women's game is on equal footing, and that's really important," said Blackburn. "I think for tennis it makes it unique. The growth of women's sports overall? Maybe basketball and soccer will get there, but I think tennis is way ahead in terms of providing that for the fan." The Tennis Channel2 free streaming option has earmarked every Tuesday as "Women's Day" — showing only women's match coverage — and Blackburn highlighted the network's roster of heavy-hitting female talent, including former players and Hall of Famers Martina Navratilova and Lindsay Davenport, among others. The deal extension also builds on WTA Ventures' recent efforts to grow its commercial revenue and build the profiles of its athletes. In 2023 the WTA formed a strategic partnership with private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, which invested $150 million for a 20% stake in the newly created WTA Ventures. The entity was formed to focus on growing commercial revenue through sponsorships and media rights deals, with the goal of tripling its revenue by 2029. In 2024 WTA Ventures said it expected to increase revenue by 24% in its first full year. The media rights extension marks the first renegotiation with the Tennis Channel under the WTA Ventures framework. The WTA's longstanding media rights deal with streaming service DAZN expires at the end of next year, and talks have begun for new deals that would begin in 2027, said Storti. WTA Ventures said its global audience surpassed 1 billion viewers on broadcast and streaming last season, and Storti said the U.S. is among one of the WTA's biggest growth markets, along with China and Poland. "We are a completely mass market product that attracts hundreds of millions of fans across the world, and I would say we deliver a product that stands kind of shoulder-to-shoulder with the men counterpart," Storti said. The WTA has also recently emphasized improvements for players. This year it's has announced a paid maternity leave funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, as well as a new policy allowing players to protect their rankings during fertility treatments Still, tennis is not without its issues of disparity. While the U.S. Open awarded equal prize money to men and women beginning in 1973, it was decades ahead of Wimbledon and other majors. And while equal prize money is given at the majors level, there's still a considerable pay gap at lower level tournaments. The sport also drew criticism around the 2025 French Open when the majority of primetime slots went to men's matches.
