IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Ryan Harrison was featured recently on the Tennis Channel. Harrison, who recently earned a wild card into the main draw of the 2010 Australian Open, is one of the best young Americans and at the age of 17 he is also one of the best young pros in the world.

In case you missed the special on Tennis Channel you can see Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

You can also become a fan of Ryan on Facebook by going here.

Read the debate intro and Loyal Homer’s argument that league affiliated television networks are finally coming into their own.

Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed many different programs on these various sport and league-affiliated networks. Does that mean that there is a need for 24-hour coverage of each sport individually, or that these networks should be considered viable competition for more established sports-themed networks such as ESPN or Fox Sports? Absolutely not.

Too much specialization

I give the MLB Network a great deal of credit for being able to sign Peter Gammons, a HIGHLY respected baseball reporter who will bring credibility and outstanding insight to the MLB Network. What Gammons will not bring, however, is a noteworthy increase in viewership. Sure, there are fans out there who seek out Gammons’ opinions and reports, and they will hungrily seek out his input and analysis no matter where it is housed. The ‘Gammons Army’ is not, however, so great that it will single-handedly propel a niche network into legitimate competition against major networks.

The problem that the MLB Network faces (as well as other league-specific networks) is that it is a network based solely on events, and those events do not run year-round. While MLB Network may be able to provide occasional programming that is noteworthy, it will not be able to provide ENOUGH programming to sustain a full-time network that can effectively COMPETE with those major networks. There is just not enough baseball to talk about 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Eventually, the repetitive and excessive over-analysis of the same events becomes overkill. While I may want to know the details about the pending trade that would involve Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, I don’t need to hear about what seven different people think about it over a period of four hours tonight, and then another ten opinions on it tomorrow!

Each sport separately makes for great headlines from time to time, and when a big story breaks it is nice to be able to utilize the league-specific networks as ONE of the resources at our disposal to find out more about a situation. Where ESPN or the Fox Sports Network holds an advantage, though, is in not restricting reporting only one sport. Instead, they can focus on those sports and events that are most relevant REGARDLESS of the sport the event occurs in. That flexibility allows those major networks to report any news that happens from any sport, rather than try to create news even in times when nothing truly newsworthy is happening. Honestly, do we REALLY need 24-hour a day news coverage of winter meetings?

Think about specialty-food stores. There are going to be times where you as a consumer are looking for a specific product, and you know that the best quality product you can find is at one of those specialty food stores. However, it is foolish and wasteful to go to the milk store, then the bread store, then the egg store, pasta store, etc, EVERY time you go grocery shopping. More often than not, the practical (and nonetheless effective) choice is to go to a one-stop shop where you can get everything you need in a quick and efficient manner.

The Power of the Masses

Separately, each league-affiliated network offers certain programming that is worth tuning in for. As Sports Geek pointed out, the NFL Network has exclusive rights to very important games. The problem that these specialty networks face is that there are very few fans exclusive to their sport. MOST fans of baseball are ALSO fans of football, or basketball, and vice versa. You cannot expect the average sports fan to segment out and schedule when and how they get sports news and updates from separate locations when there is a viable product already in place that provides COMPREHENSIVE coverage of the collective sporting world. It would be like opening a shoe store that sells only left shoes. Sure, there will be people out there who need a left shoe, and the quality of that left shoe may be unsurpassed, but those same people are also interested in purchasing a right shoe. If you can’t provide it, they will probably go somewhere else for their shoe needs.

There will always be aficionados (the term snob also comes to mind) who laud the merits of specialized products. Food-aficionados (snobs) swear by organic products and natural foods. For movie-aficionados (snobs), they will insist upon the merits of “indie films” and swear off the big-budget, no-story-having, mass-produced, over-commercialized, under-performed movies of the major studios. While those aficionados (snobs) may be correct when they swear that the specialized product they love is of a higher quality, it does not change the fact that their product does not appeal to the population at-large.

The target demographic for specialized products is very important, and should not be overlooked. However, they represent only a small portion of the population at-large. As much as aficionados despise major corporations for pandering to the masses – and will curse the masses for being under-informed, mindless sheep – it is the masses that hold the power of determining success or failure in the marketplace. The masses hold all the cards, and the masses like having a single resource to provide them with the information they desire.

For the same reason that a Farmer’s Market should not strive to compete with Wal-Mart, niche-based networks should not strive to compete with ESPN… they will NEVER win!

Wilson players Roger Federer and Serena Williams on Top of the World Tennis Ranks

Wilson players Roger Federer and Serena Williams sit atop the professional tennis ranks.

Roger Federer is #1 on the ATP World Tour and continues to be nothing less than extraordinary.  Earlier this year, Roger made his mark on tennis history as he used his Wilson [K]Six-One Tour racket to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon to lift his major title count to a record 15 Grand Slam titles.

“This year has been fantastic for me and I look forward to finishing the year on a successful note,” said Roger Federer, the greatest player of all time. Federer owns many records, most notably the record for most consecutive weeks at number one (237), most consecutive major finals appearances (10) and most consecutive semifinals appearances at a major (22).

Roger is scheduled to be in action in Basel, Paris and at the ATP World Tour Finals in London on November 22^nd when the eight best players in the men’s game compete for the ATP World Tour title.

Serena Williams regained her world #1 WTA Tour ranking after using her [K]Blade Team racket to reach the Round of 16 at the China Open last week.

Williams now has the chance to add to her career total of 72 weeks at number one. “Obviously I’m happy to be there because I’ve worked so hard this year to get there. I think I’ve earned it,” Williams said.

It has been a great year for Serena as she took the Australian Open and Wimbledon singles titles. She has also had success on the doubles court with sister Venus as they took 3 of the 4 Grand Slam Women’s Doubles titles in 2009.

“Wilson’s tennis history is unparalleled,” says Wilson Tour Director Massimo Calvelli. “Roger and Serena are a tremendous part of the Wilson tennis heritage and we are extremely proud to have them on the Wilson team.”

2010 promises to be an outstanding year for the Wilson Tour Team.

For a little hint to what’s neXt from Wilson and Roger Federer, please click here.

I’ll keep this short and start off by simply asking this:  Who out there gets the tennis channel? And why, on a weekend, would CBS not be able to broadcast the U.S. Open in primetime? Yes they have had seven hours of coverage already, including Roger Federer and another unforgettable match from American Melanie Oudin and Maria Sharapova, but switching off at 6 pm tonight was so abrupt because the day matches were still going on.  Andy Roddick’s third round match against John Isner was scheduled as the final “day session” match on Ashe but because of the Oudin-Sharapova thriller, it didn’t get underway until around 6pm, just when CBS was signing off. Ugh.   Now, in it’s fifth set, I’m going crazy, trying to watch the match on usopen.org while pacing in my living room, biting my nails down to nothing.

It just seems unfair that television companies have to put fans through all of this, when all we really want is to be able to watch these games and events when they are happening.  I’ve had enough of this over the years. First the YES network debacle, when Yankee fans in New York weren’t able to watch regular season games on a nightly basis. Luckily that didn’t last long.  This past season the NFL network bothered me, by broadcasting games on Thursday night that weren’t available to all viewers either.  I even think it’s unfair that Monday Night Football has crossed over to ESPN, what about those football fans who don’t get that cable channel? I know it’s 2009, and most people have hundreds of channels, but what about the reticent few who still maintain the modest 13 channels or so on their home sets? Shouldn’t they be given access to MNF?

I was frustrated earlier in the week when I realized that the Open would be shown on The Tennis Channel, which I conveniently don’t get, but luckily ESPN 2’s coverage beginning at 1pm was adequate enough. On a weekend, when I can watch as much tennis as I want, I want just that, choice and the ability to sit in front of the television for an entire day, if I feel like it.  Considering the quality of matches today, attempting to watch this online is killing me.  Andy hold your serve!

For the past few years it’s been the NFL Network battling cable providers, now the NFL’s latest creation, the Red Zone Channel faces a similar fate, meanwhile the Tennis Channel wages war with Cablevision in NY. As fans all you want is the channel and all you hear are the networks chirping about how the cable providers are standing between you and your favorite programming.

What customers don’t hear in detail are the outlandish requests these networks make, and the lack of economic sense of a deal from the cable provider perspective. Consider this – reports say the NFL wants to charge cable providers 25 cents per subscriber to carry the Red Zone channel on digital basic cable. For a provider with 10 million subscribers that amounts to a $30mm annual expense for a channel that is only available for about 6-7 hours a week for 17 weeks (Sunday afternoons during the season).

From an operator perspective, it’s difficult to issue a rate increase to customers for barely 100 hours of annual programming, thus picking up the channel on digital basic would be an additional expense without much added revenue, compromising significant profits. Sure, it may help retain or add some subscribers, but will many people change cable providers for what amounts to an insignificant amount of overall programming. If customers didn’t already switch to DirecTV for the complete NFL package or leave over not having the NFL Network, it’s likely they have found a way to satiate their NFL fix. Further, playing the game theory side, if multiple operators pick up the channel, soon all will follow, removing any leverage on customers and reducing profits for all providers.

The Tennis Channel case adds another layer of complexity. It does not have exclusive rights to any significant programming. As Cablevision advertised, viewers can watch about as many hours of tennis as they can hope for on ESPN and CBS, especially with DVR aided viewing. Cablevision failed to mention USOpen.org will provide live online streaming of matches and the US Open iPhone application will have a live video component. Similar options exist for all tennis Grand Slam events. At this point, does anyone outside of the niche, die-hard tennis fan need the Tennis Channel? Better yet, is anyone willing to pay higher cable rates to get the Tennis Channel or switch to satellite or telco-cable just to get the Tennis Channel? Didn’t think so, therefore Cablevision does not have incentive for increasing expenses to add the network to basic digital service.

Cable operators feel squeezed from both sides – networks increasing fees and new competition putting downward pressure on rates. With online streaming about to emerge in the form of TV Everywhere and other authenticated services, cable providers need to revisit channel packages and become more creative to offer customers more options and maximize the value they capture from each additional channel. This may include introducing a la carte packages for niche programming above and beyond digital basic, or putting a stronger marketing push and new packaging around tiered programming (sports tiers, etc), or creating new service bundles that integrate online and VOD access. Providers need to make sure they provide enough upside potential for channels to make it attractive. That comes back to the reason why content owners (or distribution owners, in the case of cable operators) need to charge a premium for good content – whether online or offline. For now, if the cable operators are smart, they will continue to push back on these niche networks with outlandish, unsubstantiated demands and develop a system that pays these niche channels based on actual customer demand. Networks may not want to hear this, but on the flip side the larger revenue per subscriber may compensate for the lower subscriber number, however any revenue is better than none, which each faces during a contract dispute with operators.

It looks like we have a couple days of straight, steady action on the Tennis Channel followed by lots of ESPN 2 and…CBS COVERAGE! Oh that’s right, Cincy is going to the networks on Sunday. Let’s hope there are as few tape delays as possible. If anybody is out there…please!?

It looks like it’s inevitable, though, with ESPN 2 having a Saturday night time slot from 10PM – Midnight. Oh well. Here it is, though. Looks solid enough to me!

TENNIS CHANNEL COVERAGE
Tues., Aug. 18
1:00 – 9:00 pm – Tennis Channel

Wed., Aug. 19
1:00 – 9:00 pm – Tennis Channel

ESPN 2 COVERAGE
Thurs., Aug. 20
12:00 – 4:00 PM
7:00 – 9:00 PM

Fri., Aug. 21
12:00 – 4:00 PM

Sat., Aug. 22
12:30 – 2:30 AM
2:00 – 4:00 PM
10:00 – 12:00 AM

CBS COVERAGE
Sun., Aug. 23
12:30 – 3:00 PM

Also if you are out there and bound to a computer that doesn’t block streaming media, you can always check atdhe.net to see what they have for free online streaming. They also stream soccer, foreign basketball, Law and Order (yes, really) and other stuff so definitely check the site out either way. She’s a gem.

Good morning everyone! I know we’re dying for some televised games right now. It’s crazy that with the caliber of some of these matches that have already been played that we haven’t seen the slightest clip of them yet. Oh well, that will all change TOMORROW!!!

Here is your schedule (in EST):

LM – Legg Mason (ATP); EWB – East West Bank (WTA)

FRIDAY:
LM – 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM – ESPN2
LM – 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Tennis Channel
EWB – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Tennis Channel
LM – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – ESPN2
EWB – 11:00 PM – 3:00 AM – ESPN2

SATURDAY:
LM – 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Tennis Channel
EWB – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Tennis Channel
LM – 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – ESPN2
EWB – 10:00 PM – Midnight – ESPN2

SUNDAY:
LM – 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM – ESPN2
EWB – 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM – ESPN2
LM – 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Tennis Channel
EWB – 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM – Tennis Channel

Just a reminder that TV coverage of the Indy Championships begins today and runs through Sunday.

Friday, 24 July, 2009

Tennis Channel (United States) 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. LIVE
ESPN2 (United States) 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. LIVE
ESPN2 (United States) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. LIVE


Saturday, 25 July, 2009

ESPN2 (United States) 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. LIVE
Tennis Channel (United States) 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. LIVE


Sunday, 26 July, 2009

Tennis Channel (United States) 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. LIVE
ESPN2 (United States) 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. LIVE

It looks like today’s 1PM coverage on Tennis Channel will be following Dmitry Tursunov vs Frank Dancevic. 4PM-6PM on ESPN 2 will be following Sam Querrey vs Marc Gicquel and 7PM-9PM will cover the battle of the Americans with John Isner vs Wayne Odesnik. I would assume that is how it’s going to go. ESPN may check in on the only other singles match today, Robby Ginepri vs Alex Bogomolov, but I think it’s safe to say that Querrey vs Gicquel will be the much better match of the two.

Predictions: Tursunov, Querrey, Ginepri, Isner

The USTA, ESPN and Tennis Channel have announced a groundbreaking television and multi-platform partnership creating a summer-long “Open Season” for tennis featuring more than 400 national television hours for the US Open and the Olympus US Open Series — an increase of nearly 100 hours. Commencing in 2009, ESPN and Tennis Channel will join CBS and become the US Open cable television broadcasters for the first time.

Under the new deal, the US Open will receive 200 hours of total coverage, an increase of over 50 hours — the most in US Open history. This marks the first time that the Series and the US Open will be carried by the same cable broadcast partner — creating a more consistent TV package for the sport. For 2008, USA Network will remain the US Open’s exclusive cable broadcaster.

For 2009 and beyond, ESPN2 will become the lead cable broadcaster for the US Open and the Olympus US Open Series, broadcasting nearly 200 hours of tennis coverage during the eight-week North American summer tennis season. Tennis Channel, which continues as a Series broadcaster with nearly 150 hours of Series coverage, will now also broadcast more than 60 hours of live US Open coverage. For the first time, Tennis Channel also will broadcast daily US Open preview and highlight shows. CBS Sports will continue to broadcast nearly 40 hours of live US Open coverage, bringing the overall national coverage of tennis during the summer season to more than 400 hours.

The six-year deal will also deliver the US Open across multiple platforms including ESPN, ESPN2, Tennis Channel, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, ESPN360 broadband programming, ESPN.com, TennisChannel.com and ESPN Mobile Properties. In addition, USOpen.org retains all rights to live streaming of US Open matches.

“This completes a five-year process of reinventing the television and digital landscape for the sport of tennis in North America,” said Arlen Kantarian, CEO Pro Tennis, USTA. “Tennis will now be prominently featured for eight straight weeks on ESPN — the premiere destination in sports; Tennis Channel — our sport’s namesake network; and CBS — our longtime network partner. This new partnership will provide more tennis, to more people, in more ways than ever before.”

“Tennis has provided many memorable moments in ESPN history, and to finally acquire the excitement and drama of the US Open is a crowning achievement,” said John Skipper, ESPN Executive Vice President, Content. “The sport is a perfect fit for our growing digital businesses, and fans will know to find the best tennis action all year on ESPN2 and on ESPN360.com.”

“Tennis Channel is proud to now become a long-term partner in one of the greatest spectacles in all of sports,” said Ken Solomon, Chairman and CEO, Tennis Channel. “For us, the US Open and the Olympus US Open Series that leads up to it each summer go far beyond sports, as collectively the ‘Open Season’ represents an unprecedented eight weeks of the best mass-appeal content in the world. Our multi-platform broadcast and marketing partnership with the USTA and ESPN, coupled with CBS’ world-class coverage will create significantly greater awareness of professional tennis in the years to come.”

US Open Television Coverage

ESPN’s US Open coverage will include approximately 100 hours, including weekday afternoon coverage and exclusive weekday primetime broadcasts. Tennis Channel will broadcast more than 60 live hours from the US Open, including exclusive primetime broadcasts on Saturday and Sunday evenings of Labor Day weekend. Below is a summary of the schedule:

First Week

• ESPN2: Live every weekday from 1-6 p.m. and primetime from 7-11 p.m.
• Tennis Channel: Live every weekday from 11-2 p.m.; live outer-court coverage from 2-6 p.m.; daily preview show from 10-11 a.m.; nightly highlights show at 11 p.m., followed by encore of matches until 10 a.m. the next morning.

Labor Day Weekend

• CBS: Live coverage from 11-6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
• ESPN2: Live coverage on Monday from 7-11 p.m.
• Tennis Channel: Live coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 7-11 p.m.; nightly highlights show at 11 p.m., followed by encore of matches until 10 a.m. the next morning.

Second Week/Quarterfinals

• ESPN2: Live Tuesday – Thursday from 11-6 p.m. and live primetime quarterfinals from 7-11 p.m.
• Tennis Channel: Live outer-court coverage from 11-6 p.m; daily preview show from 10-11 a.m.; nightly highlights show at 11 p.m., followed by encore of matches until 10 a.m. the next morning.

Finals Weekend

• CBS: Live coverage during finals weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including the men’s doubles final, the men’s and women’s Semifinals, the women’s primetime final on Saturday night and the men’s final on Sunday.
• ESPN2: Live coverage of women’s doubles final at 1 p.m. Sunday; US Open wrap-up show from 8-10 p.m.

US Open Digital and Extended Platforms

The components of this multi-platform deal include cable television, broadband, mobile properties and Spanish language distribution via ESPN Deportes. Highlights include:

• ESPN360.com, ESPN’s signature broadband network, can present action from all TV courts during ESPN2 windows, plus simulcasts of ESPN2’s coverage, totaling more than 300 hours.
• ESPN.com will provide blanket coverage of the US Open, with the latest news and scores, as well as commentary, photos and daily video news and summaries from ESPN commentators.
• ESPN Mobile Properties will present live action, press conferences and highlights.
• ESPN has the right to display a multi-court mosaic platform during its TV windows.
• Tennischannel.com will have rights to stream live match action on a non-exclusive basis.
• ESPN International, which has been a US Open broadcast partner for several years, will continue to provide US Open broadcasts to Latin America and sub-Sahara Africa.
• USOpen.org also plans to stream US Open matches and will continue to feature exclusive live scoring.

Olympus US Open Series TV Coverage

• ESPN2 will remain the lead broadcaster of the Series and provide nearly 100 hours of consistent live weekly coverage, including back-to-back men’s and women’s finals on Sundays from 3-7 p.m.
• Tennis Channel will continue to provide nearly 150 hours of Series coverage and weekly encore telecasts of semifinals and finals.
• CBS will continue to provide live finals coverage from select Series events.
• Since its launch four years ago, the Series has doubled television viewership, increased event attendance and generated new corporate partners for the sport.
• In 2008, Olympus became the first Series title sponsor, with the Series renamed the “Olympus US Open Series.”
• In total, the 2007 Olympus US Open Series — including the US Open — generated a record 1.7 million attendees, more than 120 million TV viewers and over 32 million website visits in the eight-week period.

For those of you like me who haven’t made the switch to digital television (it’s been lots of NPR-ing and lullabyes of those DTV commercials), considering going online for your Wimbledon fix.

ESPN360.com is simulcasting ESPN2’s live coverage of the grass court major, and also includes exclusive broadcast from the tournament’s outer courts. Deets: Each weekday, ESPN2’s live coverage will include all-day coverage (beginning at 7am eastern) for the first week; and one Ladies’ and one Gentlemen’s semifinal (July 2 and 3, respectively). Not online: For you SportsCenter fans, they’re also doing an episode of SC immediately following NBC’s coverage of the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s championships. Fall into a (broadcast) gap: On June 29–July 1, ESPN2 will provide alternate programming on the West Coast (10am-1pm) because NBC will broadcast from the event. Full listing: Click here for ESPN’s sched.

More TV: While we’re talkin’ TV, don’t forget about Tennis Channel, which’ll have an evening program with highlights, interviews and features June 22 through July 1, from 7–11pm.

More web:

• The second week of matches are available on NBC both live and as replays (online).

• If you are outside of the US: The Wimbledon website has live streams and also you can download matches from 6 courts. (Not available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Spain, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, New Caledonia, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, East Timor, Singapore, Sri Lanka, India, Taiwan, Laos, and Maldives.)
• You Brits can watch selected matches from BBC 1 & 2 here.
• And don’t forget the official Wimbledon site, which offers interviews and match highlights.

The best thing about the Tennis Channel is hearing Martina Navratilova’s understated but totally forthright commentary about the game. It’s a very British approach to tennis analysis, where things are stated matter-of-factly and no one rushes to fill the dead air with blather about personal lives and random facts. (A cardinal rule for witnesses is never to start talking just because no one else is. I had to remind a deponent of that rule today, when she was filling dead air with every thought that filled her head. Silence, it’s golden.)

I also like the way Martina conveys information to the hardcore tennis viewers with an eyebrow or quick retort. Here’s an example. During Bill Macatee’s interview with Robin Soderling, Martina asked Robin if his expectations are different now because he made it to the French final. His answer was no… Her retort was, “they aren’t?” *raises eyebrow at camera*

That was a signal to all of us that he gave the WRONG answer. If you want to succeed in tennis, really succeed by staying in the top ten and contending for these tournaments, you have to push yourself. You have to want pressure. She later correctly observed that Andy Roddick had been working his tail off for a long time and that he wants it, he believes he should have those moments. That has always been my defense of Roddick. That’s why he’s been in the top ten for ten years.

Her follow up to Soderling was basically to tell him he should be in the top ten permanently, so he should hold himself to a higher standard. That’s the kind of interviewing I want. This is the Tennis Channel – it’s for hardcore fans, we have no need or interest in boring interviews where the players get clichéd questions like “how do you feel about a potential quarterfinal match-up with Roger Federer?”

Talentless Hack Still Has a Job

Contrast Martina with resident misogynist Justin Gimelstob, who makes me want to turn off the Tennis Channel in protest every time I see him. Martina had some choice words for Gimel-dick last year when he went on his hateful rant about physically attacking Kournikova. (I won’t repeat what he said but you can google it) Let’s just assume the network keeps him separated from several women players, including from Serena, who rushed to Anna’s defense. 

Maybe I’d have kinder words for him if he said anything worth hearing (you’re right: no I wouldn’t)… but he’s the opposite of insightful. He does his best Bill Macatee bland imitation and then serves up clichés like the players all talking about Nadal withdrawing. Wow. And he gets paid to come up with “insider info” like that.

McEnroe and Robinson Need a Divorce

While we’re on the subject, I like John McEnroe as much as the next person, but hearing  him and Ted Robinson reunited on the Tennis Channel fills me with dread. John can be the best commentator, but his partnership with Robinson is stale. Robinson recites the same personal anecdotes about the same players and then prompts McEnroe with one of two things: 1) a comparison to John’s era, which gives John the opportunity to crack on today’s game. 2) An observation about a player that is always true and has nothing to do with the match they are supposed to be analyzing. Like, “how important is Roddick’s serve, John?” Gee, way to waste a great tennis brain! Over the weekend my 10 year old cousin Dylan  informed me that Roddick had the fastest serve  in tennis and he even knew the mph, thanks to that Geico commercial. What we really need to know is that effective serving is not just about speed, it involves placement and spin, and the proper questions are whether Roddick is using it effectively against his opponent; if not, why not. And where should he serve it to maximize his game on grass. The reason the American sports media is so ignorant about tennis is because their info sources are too rudimentary. The Robinson approach is rather like asking John Madden, “hey, how important is it for Tom Brady to throw touchdowns in the sport of football?” We learn nothing from such a question.

Or to extend the analogy, it’s like asking Joh Madden, “say, when you were coaching John, the players were tough. They took steriods, drank the night before games and had no teeth, right? Isn’t Tom Brady boring in comparison?” The worst part of all this is that McEnroe actually doesn’t hate this era compared to his own. He thinks it’s in a lot of ways even better, but that ego… he wants you to want him, needs you to need him…

Anyway the remedy is of course to put three people in the booth (unless we get to fire Ted, which won’t happen). Mac doesn’t like the spotlight, but he’s better when he’s playing off Carillo or Jim Courier at CBS.

And please, please find a way to get him in the studio more often where he can share airtime with Martina. They’ve had random little issues with each other through the years, which unfortunately prevented the double-lefty doubles GOATS from playing mixed together. But their games were similar, both are not shy about their opinions and they’ve been compelling the few times we’ve seen them on air together. Let’s convene a roundtable discussion to talk about serve and volley tennis and its death and Wimbledon’s horrible decision to hasten it by slowing down the lawns…

A commercial (also airing during Roland Garros on ESPN and the Tennis Channel) for “Chase Visa” featured a criminal decked out in the most stereotypical criminal atire possible – a black hankerchief strapped around the eyes for good measure – using a blowtourch to cut a circular hole out of the computer screen of the unexpecting (female) user.  He begins to crawl through, but thank goodness for Chase Visa’s online security features. Keeps those cyber-criminals at bay.

A Franklin Templeton Investments advertisement that aired on ESPN and the Tennis Channel during Roland Garros featured their logo of Ben Franklin’s head floating across the facades of downtown skyscrapers. Zoom in to the people in the buildings, using their computers to make investments. The floating head returns. Money is made. A true story of the screen.

–Round-Up of Recent Sling Media/EchoStar News

TV place-shifting company, Sling Media (note: the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corp.), announced new partnerships with the US Tennis Association (USTA) and the Tennis Channel, Tuesday, which it bills as bringing a range of premier tennis content and highlights to its broadband video/over-the-top programming service, Sling.com. The company says that the content from its two new partners, combined with content from existing partners Tennis.com and IMG, will make Sling.com into a “video destination for tennis fans” that will feature such offerings as Grand Slam recaps, instructional videos, “lifestyle” programming and match footage. It says it also plans to offer special “event environments” that will be programmed around major events in the tennis season, including the US Open, Wimbledon and other Grand Slam tournaments. “Sling.com is the one-stop video destination for tennis fans, and we couldn’t be happier to bring in-depth tennis coverage to our users,” Sling Media general manager, Johnny Gilmore, said in a prepared statement. “We are looking forward to bringing more great sports content to our consumers in 2009 as we cover the biggest events in the sporting world.” Added Robyn Miller, SVP of marketing at the Tennis Channel: “Tennis Channel’s ongoing mission is to make as much tennis as possible available to as many fans who want to take part in the sport. This partnership honors that calling by bringing our network’s highlights, series episodes, short-form instructional programming and other content to Sling.com visitors who are hungry for tennis material that can’t be found anywhere else. We’re truly excited about this new opportunity to broaden Tennis Channel’s reach, especially in a year when we’ll add the US Open to our tournament line-up next to Wimbledon, the French Open and the Australian Open.” Sling.com’s new branded Tennis Channel area is located at: http://sling.com/network/105/Tennis-Channel.

In other recent news from Sling Media:
–Last week, the company announced an upgrade program for customers who own earlier versions of its flagship Slingbox TV place-shifting device, including the original Slingbox, the Slingbox AV and the Slingbox Tuner. The upgrade program–which provides customers with a $50 discount on the purchase of a new Slingbox Solo or Slingbox Pro-HD (note: to qualify for the discount, they must input a valid serial number at slingmedia.com/upgrade)–is necessitated by the fact that the next generation of the company’s software and services will only be supported by the most current Slingbox and “SlingLoaded” (see below) products. New Sling Media software slated to launch in the near future includes SlingPlayer Mobile for the Apple iPhone (see below).
–In the run-up to the NCTA Cable Show in Washington, DC last week, Sling Media and EchoStar unveiled a tru2way-based, “SlingLoaded” (note: the latter is a term that has been trademarked by EchoStar to designate its non-Sling Media set-top boxes that offer TV place-shifting and other Sling Media capabilities), multi-tuner HD DVR that has been designed specifically for the US cable industry. Dubbed the T2200S, the new box allows end-users to watch their home television service (including live TV and DVR and VOD content) on a wide range of Internet-connected devices, including PC’s, Macs, mobile media players and mobile phones. Other “SlingLoaded” capabilities offered by the box include remote video diagnostics, which would allow subscribers to opt in to receive remote trouble-shooting from their MSO’s tech support operations; SlingGuide, an online search engine for TV content (see below); and the ability to schedule online timers and to manage DVR recordings remotely. The box also offers a 1 terabyte hard drive (for up to 1,000 hours of storage), and supports external storage via USB or an optional eSATA port. As a tru2way-based device, it will work with multiple OCAP EPG’s, EchoStar and Sling Media say, and will be “fully functional for tru2way-enabled cable systems, including M-Card support, embedded cable modem, DOCSIS Set-Top Gateway for two-way communication, and OCAP middleware.” Other features claimed for the new box include support for MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and VC1; 1GHz tuners to support extended network bandwidth; the ability to connect to a home network via Ethernet, WiFi (via an optional WiFi adapter) or MoCA; picture-in-picture capability; support for advanced resolution formats up to 1080p24; support for custom branding by MSO’s; support for Macrovision and DCS analog copy protection; and a capacitive-touch, backlit front panel with a clock display. EchoStar and Sling Media say the T2200S will be available for testing in MSO labs this June, with volume production rolling out in the fourth quarter.
–Also last week, Sling Media announced a deal with children’s programming provider, HIT Entertainment, that will see the latter offering a range of content free-of-charge on Sling.com, including videos from HIT’s high-profile “Thomas the Tank Engine,” “Barney,” and “Bob the Builder” brands. As part of the deal, Sling Media says it is creating a HIT Entertainment-branded area on Sling.com. “Partnering with Sling Media provides an exciting new channel of distribution for our programs,” Rob Weisstuch, SVP and CIO of HIT Entertainment, said in a prepared statement. “Through this agreement, we are pleased to be able to offer families access to a vast library of programs when they want it, where they want it.”
–Late last month, the company released a version of its SlingPlayer Mobile software (enables, among other things, TV place-shifting to mobile devices) for BlackBerry smartphones. The software, which had been available through a free beta since the beginning of the year, is priced at $29.99 (with a 30-day free trial).
–At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, January, the company unveiled a new Web-based programming-search service called SlingGuide. The service is billed as allowing consumers to browse, search and record programs on their DVR from any PC, Mac or compatible mobile phone, and–if their DVR is “SlingLoaded” or has a Slingbox connected to it–as allowing them to watch live or DVR-recorded programs (on a PC, Mac or supported mobile phone) through a Web-based version of Sling Media’s SlingPlayer software that is integrated into SlingGuide. It is slated to launch this spring and will initially be available only to customers of the DISH Network satellite-TV service. According to Sling Media, it will offer DISH Network customers with select, supported DVR’s a “personal, integrated and centralized view of everything [they] want to watch or record on DISH Network…and even Internet video from Sling.com.” Other features claimed by Sling Media for SlingGuide include the ability to search for programming by title, genre, network, keyword or actor; the ability for DISH Network customers to transform their iPhone or iPod Touch (using those devices’ Web browsers) into “an intelligent remote control capable of quickly browsing and searching the program guide, scheduling and managing DVR recordings, and more…without disturbing the television picture”; a “personalized integrated view of everything you want to watch or record” through a simple visual interface on the PC, Mac or iPhone/iPod Touch; and integration with Sling.com for clips and trailers of end-users’ favorite shows.
–Sling Media and EchoStar also used CES to unveil their first “SlingLoaded” DVR, an HD-enabled box dubbed the EchoStar 922. According to the companies, the new box features (in addition to TV place-shifting and other capabilities provided by Sling Media’s Slingbox technology) a 1 terabyte hard drive; a touchpad remote control that eliminates half the buttons of a standard remote and that provides users with “cursor-like” navigation on their TV screen (“with a slide of their thumb,” EchoStar and Sling Media claim, “viewers experience scroll-over activation of widget-like tiles and pop-up menus, all selectable by an underside index-finger trigger”); a user interface that 1) “goes beyond traditional text-based user interfaces” by using movie poster graphics, tiles or widget-based menus and “cursor-type navigation,” 2) displays integrated RSS feeds, providing instant access to national news, weather, sports and stock quotes, 3) organizes channels by name or number, and 4) is integrated with the SlingGuide; and support for future upgrades which EchoStar and Sling Media say may include “photo sharing, movie ticket purchases, family calendar, instant messaging, streaming audio, and [the] ability to transfer content within a home network.” DISH Network is slated to be the first customer of the new EchoStar 922: it plans to launch it as the “HD DuoDVR SlingLoaded ViP 922″ in the spring.
–At the Macworld show in San Francisco, January, the company unveiled SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone, as well as SlingPlayer for Mac HD, a Web-based version of its SlingPlayer software which it says will be accessible from Sling.com and will allow Slingbox Pro-HD users to stream HD content to a Mac desktop or laptop.
–Shortly after CES and Macworld, the company underwent some major changes in its senior management team: co-founder and CEO, Blake Krikorian, co-founder and SVP of business development, Jason Krikorian (Blake’s brother), president of the Sling Media Entertainment Group, Jason Hirschhorn, and chief creative officer of that group, Ben White, all left the company. The company is now headed up by its former COO, Johnny Gilmore.

The World Tennis Association had a great opportunity to take a stand on the issue of bigotry and discrimination against one of their own. The Israeli tennis professional Shahar Peer was denied a visa to enter Dubai to play in a WTA tennis tournament. Shahar is currently ranked at number 45 in the world (she was once in the top 20) and had earned the right to play in the event.

This was the moment for the WTA to stand up and be counted. The Wall Street Journal Europe, a sponsor of the tournament withdrew its sponsorship, the Tennis Channel decided not to broadcast the event. Both commendable and praiseworthy.

The response of Larry Scott of WTA was less so. The opportunity to take a stand was lost as Scott told the Dubai organizers they should not do it again or they will face losing the right to host the tournament. A fine was imposed against the organizers and the games went on. Regrettably the Williams sisters who could have made a powerful statement against the Dubai action by leading a boycott did not. Venus made a statement condemning the action but played in the tournament as did her sister. Sony Ericcson did not withdraw their sponsorship nor did Barclays.

To quote one commentator on the subject,” An opportunity to make a strong statement against bigotry was met with meaningless words rather than assertive action.” Let the WTA hang its head in shame!

I’ll provide some linkage today. Why not? It’s a quiet Thursday. It’s like the calm before the storm. We’re all waiting for the Super Bowl to start. By now, we all want the game to be played.

I know it would never happen, but I would not mind if the Super Bowl moved to a Saturday night instead of Sunday. The following day, most of us have to work so we’re kind of tired, but I understand that the NFL wants us to talk about the game at work the following day after the Super Bowl. But maybe if they tried it just once to see how it works out. Just my one opinion for the day.

Now to your links.

USA Today’s Michael Hiestand recaps NBC’s Football Night in America media conference call.

Richard Sandomir of the New York Times catches up with Gayle Sierens, the first and only woman to have called an NFL game on network TV, who’s currently working as a news anchor in Tampa.

Leonard Shapiro of the Washington Post says NBC made the right move in hiring Matt Millen for the Super Bowl.

Grayson Kamm of WTSP in Tampa has a look at ESPN’s set at the Super Bowl.

Steve Schrader of the Detroit Free Press says the Lingerie Bowl will be canceled for the second straight year.

Joe Strupp of Editor & Publisher writes that there were fewer media credential requests for the Super Bowl this year.

The St. Petersburg Times has a less-than-flattering picture of Chris Berman.

Barry Horn of the Dallas Morning News writes that ESPN Cowboys beat reporter Ed Werder is on Steelers patrol this week. Barry says Michael Irvin’s reality show is conducting casting calls across the country.

Jack Neff of Advertising Age writes that there’s not much buzz about the Super Bowl ads this year.

Peter Hartlaub of MSNBC.com lists his Top Ten Super Bowl ads. I can’t argue with his number one choice, but I would put his #4 choice at the top Super Bowl ad of all-time.

The always lovely Toni Fitzgerald of Media Life Magazine says Super Bowl ads always drive buzz the following day.

Jay Loomis of the Lower Hudson (NY) Journal News says Pepsi will have a 3-D ad for the Super Bowl.

John Ryan of the San Jose Mercury News says Super Bowl ads are indeed selling.

Etan Vlessing of the Hollywood Reporter reports that CTV is having trouble selling ads for its Super Bowl broadcast in Canada.

CNBC’s Darren Rovell writes that Coke is recreating its famous Mean Joe Greene ad with current Steeler Troy Polamalu, but with a new twist. Darren says the NBA is toppling Topps and undermining Upper Deck as the league’s trading card partners. And Darren talks with an NBA official about the league’s new card deal.

Ed Sherman of Crain’s Chicago Business says NBC still has two Super Bowl spots available. And Ed says Todd Hollandsworth replaces Dan Plesac as Cubs studio analyst.

The following link comes courtesy Neil Best of Newsday. AJ Daulerio of Deadspin tells us that ESPN Dictator George Bodenheimer came down from his ivory tower in Bristol, CT to inform employees that hiring freezes, salary freezes and downsizing were imminent in 2009.

Neil writes that the Yankees are taking steps to ensure that there’s never a Joe Torre-type tome written again. Neil has video of the Shea Stadium demolition. Neil writes that former Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson will be a guest analyst on the MLB Network today and tomorrow.

Jim Williams from the DC/Baltimore Examiner talks with new Nationals analyst Rob Dibble.

Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says Don Sutton is excited to be back broadcasting Braves games.

Corky Blake of the Lehigh Valley Express Times says MLB Network justifies the rise in his cable bill.

Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union writes that Jimmy Connors is joining the Tennis Channel as an analyst.

Diane Pucin of the Los Angeles Times says Connors will have to work hard to join John and Patrick McEnroe and Mary Carillo as tennis’ best analysts.

Ray Frager of the Baltimore Sun says the local Fox affiliate has hired a very hot weekend sports anchor.

Tim Lemke of the Washington Times says the Capitals are thriving in the recession both at the gate and on TV.

The Sports Media Watch says NHL All-Star Weekend was a big hit on Versus. However, ESPN which is in more households than Versus, beat the NHL All-Star Game with the Winter X Games.

Steve Lepore in Puck The Media says in which the NHL and NBA share a single market, only three have the NHL outrating the NBA on TV. Steve writes that ESPN’s John Buccigross will be doing some college hockey games this year.

William Houston of the Toronto Globe and Mail reports that gay rights groups are angry at Don Cherry and Mike Milbury for using what they say are gay slurs.

The Dayton Daily News reports that ESPN is moving February 11’s Xavier-Dayton game from ESPN2 to ESPN Classic due to a scheduling conflict.

Jon Laging of the Albert Lea (MN) Tribune is wondering when he’s going to be able to watch the Big Ten Network in his area.

Jay G. Tate of the Montgomery (AL) Advertiser writes that former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville will join ESPN as analyst for National Signing Day.

Roger van der Horst in the Raleigh News & Observer writes that ESPNU will air several ACC lacrosse games this season.

ESPN has been awarded TV Programmer of the Year.

Dustin Long of the Virginian-Pilot talks with Fox Sports El Jefe del Mundo David Hill about NASCAR which is about ready to begin its new season.

And that finishes the links for today.