Tennis Channel Doubles Distribution In DirecTV Deal

The Tennis Channel looks to nearly double its distribution, via a new carriage deal with DirecTV. The satellite operator will add 8 million homes this summer to the channel's current estimate of 10 million.

The deal combines two of the channel's notable milestones--it gives all 16 million DirecTV customers access to its coverage of the French Open this summer. That initiative includes both a standard Tennis Channel feed and streams on five additional channels to show a range of matches simultaneously.

Somewhat surprisingly, the fledgling network secured rights to offer the Grand Slam event last year.

No doubt much of DirecTV's interest in carrying the channel is its pledge to add a slew of HD channels, since sports is still a top genre for HD viewing. A Tennis Channel high-definition version will come to the DBS service in December.

"In today's sports television world, it's critical to have a successful namesake network. The added distribution through the millions of DirecTV households further advances the goals of Tennis Channel," said Arlen Kantarian, CEO of the United States Tennis Association, which recently took an equity stake in the network.

Besides adding the French Open, the network also secured rights to the Australian Open, another Grand Slam, which builds its current lineup of 60 tournaments a year, as well as other programming, including documentaries.

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