Tennis Channel should look into showing some tennis as well. Or, if they only want to show the slams, then why not be a special slam-only channel. Don't waste air space with the same Lleyton Hewitt interview 25 times a week. Only come on during the slams and devote every second of your air time to showing as much live tennis on every court possible. I don't know if this can be done. I doubt it ever will be done, but I can honestly say that as of the past few months, I have seen no reason for there to be a Tennis Channel.
Did you check the schedule for the Sony Ericsson Tournament?
There is NOTHING showing on TTC....it's FSN and local for the final...Second tournament in a row with no coverage from TTC!
I like you am fed up with watching the same programs over and over again. We took a package with Dish Network which was more than we wanted so we would have the coverage of the tournaments...what a disappointment so far this year. Instead of getting better it's getting worse. I've about had it with Murphy!!
I am beginning to wonder if TTC will still be existence by next year with so many dissatisfied viewers....we are not alone!
Can it be done? Of course it can be done if some people would want to keep their customers happy. How is this for starters --- ESPN2 delivered 40 hrs (fourty hours) of "Live Tennis Coverage" last year, and their coverage was exellent...if you missed a game during the day it was replayed on tape either late that same night or the early AM hours. Also to be fair where fairness is due, " The Tennis Channel" used to have some great coverage a year or two back.
I used to keep the Tennis hanel on almost 24/7, just like MTV when I was in college. But I too have seen way too many of the Layton Hewitt Other Side episodes. I bought the Tennis Channel and pushed and pushed it on Direct TV because I love tennis. I love to play, I love to watch, and I'd love to get better.
Therefore I'd love to see tennis and not other sports. Rather than taquetball and ping-pong I'd love to watch college tennis (at any level). How about the USTA or K-Swiss or any other league finals. High school tennis is better to me than raquetball or ping-pong.
I'd also love to see more of the instructional aspect. I love Etcheberry most and then Tactical Tennis, they really help improve my game, and to me that's what it's all about. I love Destination Tennis and I've seen every episode at least three times. I'm sure there are a lot more destinations (I go to South Beach at Hilton Head every fall) that everyone can afford would be chomping at the bit to pay you to be shown on the TC that would include a lot more people. Tennis Shorts is great but there are only a few of them. You could make one episode of Tactical Tennis into several Tennis Shorts and I think your audience would love it.
Brent Abel Web Tennis doesa video instruction newsletter free by e-mail that has helped my game (and my tenis elbow) . Things like that for full shows or Tennis Shorts in my opinion is what the 35-55 year old tennis junkie is looking for and you could so easily provide it and quadruple your subscribers.
My finger is on the pulse of the working family man tennis junkie that wants to get better and win all the time. I really hope you read this and contact me for the dozen other ideas I have.
I really look forward to sharing more ideas.
Hi Steve and thanks for your kind words about my tennis instructional website, WebTennis.net
You are correct, I do publish a free weekly video tip newsletter over at:
www.webtennis.net/newsletter.htm where I also have lots of additional free content not only for improving your tennis but also for tennis related injuries.
I also agree with you on wanting to see more tennis matches on The Tennis Channel.
Thanks again Steve. - Brent -
Just more tennis no Racketball or other NON tennis sports please... It is much better as the TC gets packaging deals and is allowed to broadcast more matches. FSN had the TV rights to the tournaments that are being complained about soooooo no TC.