This press release came in today and I haven’t seen much buzz about it, so I’ll give it some tonight. Tennis Channel announces that John McEnroe will continue to be the main analyst for the French Open through 2013. Nice deal. It ensures that Johnny Mac will be seen on four networks covering three Grand Slam tournaments in the US, French Open on Tennis Channel and NBC; Wimbledon on NBC; US Open on ESPN and CBS. And McEnroe also works for 7 Network during the Australian Open and the BBC for Wimbledon. The man is busy, but he’s so good that he his services are in demand worldwide.
Here’s the press release.
JOHN MCENROE TO COVER FRENCH OPEN ON TENNIS CHANNEL THROUGH 2013
Network Extends Roland Garros Contract with Tennis Legend, Set to Provide Match Commentary, Overall Analysis During 2010 Telecast May 23-June 6McEnroe has been in Tennis Channel French Open Booth since Inaugural 2007 CoverageLOS ANGELES, May 10, 2010 – Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, has extended its French Open relationship with tennis icon John McEnroe. The man with one of the best-known faces in televised tennis today will continue his lead analyst’s role during the network’s annual coverage of the event (also known as Roland Garros) through 2013. The announcement comes just prior to the Hall of Famer’s fourth year in the booth for the channel at the world’s most prestigious clay-court tournament, beginning with the start of play Sunday, May 23.McEnroe will provide his unique insight, champion’s opinion and overall analysis throughout Tennis Channel’s two-week telecast. As in years past, he will also contribute to the network’s nightly prime-time show, French Open Tonight, hosted by veteran sports anchor Bill Macatee. Additionally, McEnroe will offer perspective and commentary with fellow analyst and Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova, herself a mainstay of Tennis Channel’s French Open activity. The network’s complete 2010 French Open on-air schedule is forthcoming.“It’s been great representing Tennis Channel since our first French Open broadcast,” said McEnroe. “I’m glad to extend our relationship and am looking forward to getting back into the Roland Garros booth again in May.”As one of the most recognizable and credible television analysts in tennis today, McEnroe has captivated sports fans since bringing his fiery personality to the pro tennis scene in the late 1970s. He won 77 singles and 78 doubles titles during his career, including four US Open and three Wimbledon singles championships. McEnroe won the French Open mixed doubles championship with Mary Carillo in 1977, and reached the tournament’s singles final in 1984. He is possibly the most dominant Davis Cup player of all time, winning the championship five times as a member of the U.S. team and remains the all-time record holder in U.S. Davis Cup total wins (59 wins vs. 10 losses), singles wins (41-8), ties or rounds played (30), and years played (12). McEnroe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1999.McEnroe helped usher in a new era in Grand Slam television during Tennis Channel’s inaugural French Open telecast in 2007. With round-the-clock match play, action that jumped from court to court, a nightly prime-time recap and interview show, expert analysis from the biggest names in the sport, and free live broadband streams from as many as five daily courts, Tennis Channel left its mark in major tennis coverage and set the standard for the network’s future Grand Slam telecasts of the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.This year Tennis Channel will devote more than 230 hours of programming to the French Open (all in high definition) including live matches, encore replays and highlights via French Open Tonight. The network will also offer multiple live match streams on its Web site, www.tennischannel.com, as it has since 2007. 2010 is the second year that Tennis Channel will cover all four of tennis’ major competitions.
Nice to have McEnroe on Tennis Channel. I’ve been able to watch his work for BBC during Wimbledon the past few years and he’s been tremendous there as well.
