Network Adds First Day of BNP Paribas Open to Expand to More than 185 Live Hours, 510 Overall, Events in Southern California and Miami
First-Ball-through-Finals Coverage Planned for Tennis’ Three-and-a-Half-Week
Bracket Festival, with Daylong Live Matches and Round-the Clock Nighttime Encores
With multi-tiered tournament brackets, daylong competition, stunning upsets, favorite stars, pedigreed previous champions, a captivated fan base and the game’s most exciting athletes chasing the same prize, the month of March means Match Madness to Tennis Channel viewers. As the network begins its three-and-a-half week journey through the prestigious BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open events on Wednesday, March 11, it plans more than 185 hours of live coverage that includes 15 days of morning-to-evening competition. With additional live coverage and late-night encores, Tennis Channel will devote more than 510 combined hours and 25 days to the Southern California and Miami competitions, often referred to as the sport’s “Fifth Slams” given tournament fields eclipsed only by tennis’ four major “Grand Slam” events.
In 2015, Tennis Channel is adding the first day of play at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., expanding to eight consecutive days of 12-hour, live-match blocks – and 10 days of live matches overall at the 12-day event (complete schedules for both tournaments follow). More than 100 live hours are planned this year, with 162 overall via encore telecasts. Already one of the most important events on the professional circuit, this year’s competition has generated exceptional interest given World No. 1 Serena Williams’ return to the field for the first time since 2001, when she won the championship.
As the television home of one of the players’ favorite venues, the network will cover live action from Opening Day Wednesday, March 11, up to the men’s quarterfinal and women’s semifinal rounds. Tennis Channel will carry the men’s doubles final live on championship weekend, and offer same-day encore replays of all men’s and women’s singles quarterfinal, semifinal and championship matches. With all-night encores throughout the tournament, viewers will be able to leave their televisions tuned into Tennis Channel from March 11-March 22 and see the entire breadth of Indian Wells on-air competition.
Also new for the network in 2015 is the addition of a second broadcast booth in the tournament’s new state-of-the art Stadium 2, unveiled last year. This gives Tennis Channel an event presence in three distinct locations: a booth in Stadium 2, a booth on the main court at Stadium 1 and a studio desk on the tournament grounds, the hub of the network’s on-air activity.
“It’s so much fun to have our Tennis Channel set outside with the fans at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden,” said Austin. “March is such a huge month for tennis, with great matchups every day, and even more so this year with the return of Serena Williams to the BNP Paribas Open.”
Immediately following the BNP Paribas Open is March’s other high-profile competition: the Miami Open, from March 26-April 5. As with Southern California, Tennis Channel’s coverage gets underway on Opening Day and features daylong live matches most days, with round-the-clock encores filling out the late-night and early morning schedules. The network plans 85 live hours and close to 250 overall with encore replays. Most live coverage runs from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m., from the first ball of play through the women’s quarterfinals, with same-day encores of the men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
On-Air Talent
This is Austin’s fifth time as part of Tennis Channel’s on-air team at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, and the second for Courier. During his career, the American star won singles titles at the Southern California competition in 1991 and 1993, and a doubles crown in 1991. Fellow Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport is back as an analyst in her fifth year with Tennis Channel, and took numerous championships in the desert in her playing days, with singles in 1997 and 2000, and an impressive six doubles in 1994-95, 1997-98, 2000 and 2003.
Jon Wertheim is in his first year as part of Tennis Channel’s BNP Paribas Open team, and adds a sharp tennis reporter’s eye to major network coverage. An executive editor and senior writer of Sports Illustrated¸ he writes weekly tennis columns and has authored numerous books on the sport and its players.
Tennis Channel’s Live BNP Paribas Open Coverage Schedule
(Men’s/Women’s Singles Unless Otherwise Specified)
Date
Time (ET) Event Wednesday, March 11 2 p.m.-2 a.m. First Round
Thursday, March 12 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. First Round
Friday, March 13 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. First Round, Second Round
Saturday, March 14 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Second Round
Sunday, March 15 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Second Round, Third Round
Monday, March 16 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Third Round
Tuesday, March 17 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Third Round, Round of 16
Wednesday, March 18 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Round of 16, Quarterfinals
Friday, March 20 5 p.m.-7 p.m.;
9 p.m.-11 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinal, Women’s Semifinal Saturday, March 21 10:30 p.m.-12 a.m. Men’s Doubles Final
Encore replays of the men’s and women’s singles semifinals and finals will air as follows (ET):
Saturday, March 21 – Women’s Semifinals: 6 a.m.-10 a.m., 9 p.m.-10:30 p.m.;
Men’s Semifinal: 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, March 22 – Men’s Semifinals: 12 a.m.-4 a.m., 6 a.m.-10 a.m.;
Women’s Semifinals: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Women’s Final: 8 p.m.-10 p.m.;
Men’s Final: 10 p.m.-12 a.m.
Monday, March 23 – Women’s Final: 12 a.m.-2 a.m., 10 p.m.-12 a.m.;
Men’s Final: 2 a.m.-4 a.m., 8 p.m.-10 a.m.;
Women’s Semifinals: 12 p.m.-4 p.m.; Men’s Semifinals: 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Tennis Channel’s Live Miami Open Coverage Schedule
(Men’s/Women’s Singles Unless Otherwise Specified)
Date
Time (ET) Event Wednesday, March 25 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. First Round
Thursday, March 26 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. First Round, Second Round
Friday, March 27 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Second Round
Saturday, March 28 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Second Round, Third Round
Sunday, March 29 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Third Round
Monday, March 30 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Third Round, Round of 16
Tuesday, March 31 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Round of 16, Quarterfinals
Encore coverage includes men’s and women’s singles semifinals (ET):
Thursday, April 2 – Women’s Semifinals: 11 p.m.-3 a.m.
Friday, April 3 – Women’s Semifinals: 7 a.m.-11 a.m.; Men’s Semifinals: 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
Saturday, April 4 – Men’s Semifinals: 2 a.m.-9 a.m., 3 p.m.-8 p.m., 10 p.m.-midnight;
Women’s Semifinals: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Women’s Final 8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, April 5 – Women’s Final: 12 a.m.-2 a.m., 10 p.m.-12 a.m.;
Men’s Semifinals: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.;
Women’s Semifinals: 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m.; Men’s Final: 8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Monday, April 6 – Men’s Final: 12 a.m.-2 a.m.
Topics: BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, Tennis, Tennis Channel
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