Both Tennis Channel and ESPN2 will be all over the French Open which starts on Sunday. For this Grand Slam tournament, Tennis Channel is the main rightsholder and will go from 5 a.m. until noon daily. ESPN2 sublicenses from Tennis Channel and starts its coverage at noon in the East. Two releases, one from Tennis Channel and the other from ESPN.
John McEnroe will be the main analyst for Tennis Channel’s coverage from Roland Garros. Ted Robinson and Friend of Fang’s Bites Ian Eagle will call matches. Martina Navratilova and the great Bud Collins will also participate in Tennis Channel’s coverage.
Here’s Tennis Channel’s press release.
TENNIS CHANNEL’S 2010 FRENCH OPEN COVERAGE BEGINS WITH TOURNAMENT’S FIRST SERVE SUNDAY, MAY 23
Lindsay Davenport, Bud Collins to Join John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova as Part of Tournament On-Air TeamMore than 240 Hours of Tournament Programming Set for Two-Week Competition, Including 77 Live-Match Hours and 42 First-Run Hours of French Open TonightLOS ANGELES, May 17, 2010 – Tennis Channel, the only 24-hour, television-based multimedia destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle, will carry 77 hours of live French Open coverage during its fourth year in Paris, not including same-day repeats of the men’s and women’s singles semifinals. As a general rule, seven hours of live match play will air each day, from 5 a.m. to noon ET, with coverage continuing through the men’s and women’s quarterfinals deep into the second week of play (see complete schedule below).The network’s groundbreaking prime-time show, French Open Tonight, will return each evening with anchor Bill Macatee and Tennis Channel’s signature set overlooking the tournament’s famed Musketeer Plaza. The nightly three-and-a-half-hour show will again offer interviews, highlights, analysis, encore match replays and coverage from in and around the City of Light. Macatee will host a variety of tennis personalities, including players, coaches, agents, tennis-industry representatives, past champions, Hall of Famers and other notables in the sport.French Open Tonight will run from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET, each evening, and immediately re-air twice in its entirety, throughout the night and early morning, concluding with the start of the following day’s live match play at 5 a.m. ET. In all, Tennis Channel will show more than 140 hours of the nightly show, with 42 hours of first-run airings.All of Tennis Channel’s coverage from the world’s most prestigious clay-court competition will be produced in high definition. The network is working with ESPN2 again to bring viewers an almost round-the-clock tournament experience for the fourth consecutive year, with each channel cross-promoting the other’s schedule. As Tennis Channel’s daily match coverage concludes at noon ET, ESPN2 picks up the action without missing a beat, covering the tournament through 6:30 p.m. ET, when Tennis Channel’s French Open Tonight begins. Tennis Channel will produce all coverage for both channels, with each making use of its own on-air team.On-Air TalentJohn McEnroe and Martina Navratilova have become fixtures of Tennis Channel’s French Open coverage and will be back in the network’s booth this year as lead on-air analysts. In their fourth year of providing Hall of Fame insight, the pair will be joined by new correspondent Lindsay Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam singles winner who reached the French Open semifinals in 1998. Ted Robinson, Ian Eagle and former player Leif Shiras will resume play-by-play duties for the network in 2010, working with Tennis Channel’s long-running team of analysts and former players Katrina Adams, Justin Gimelstob, Barry MacKay and Corina Morariu.“I’m thrilled that it’s springtime in Paris and the French Open is here again,” said Navratilova. “Everyone wants to see if Rafael Nadal can return to dominance after his disappointing exit last year. The women’s side is just as interesting, with so many potential winners. I can’t wait to get back in the Tennis Channel booth and watch it all unfold.”Davenport, in addition to her appearances during match coverage, will frequently assist on French Open Tonight with Macatee, along with a roster of new contributors. Legendary tennis writer, analyst, reporter and all-around expert Bud Collins joins the prime-time team this year, as does long-time tennis journalist Jon Wertheim. Rounding out French Open Tonight will be Cari Champion, anchor of Tennis Channel’s Court Report nightly newscast, and Danielle Dotzenrod, host of health and nutrition series Fit To Hit. Combined, this group will offer analysis and commentary, and cover the sights and sounds of the tournament grounds, its fans and various on-site activities – with field reports from the surrounding city sprinkled into the mix.Broadband CoverageTennis Channel’s extensive French Open coverage has never been limited to television. The network will again offer free live and on-demand broadband streams, with close to 125 matches and 200 hours during the first 10 days of the tournament. Visitors to the network’s site, www.tennischannel.com, will be able to view any one of five courts for the first eight days of the event, followed by a single court on days nine and ten. The site will also offer interview archives from French Open Tonight, news, live scores, daily highlights, exclusive tournament photos, blogs, columns, sweepstakes information and the network’s “Racquet Bracket” tournament prediction game.Tennis Channel’s Live 2010 French Open Match Schedule – Entirely in High Definition(Men’s/Women’s Singles Unless Otherwise Specified)Date Time(ET) EventSunday, May 23 5 a.m.-Noon First-Round ActionMonday, May 24 5 a.m.-3 p.m. First-Round ActionTuesday, May 25 5 a.m.-Noon First-Round ActionWednesday, May 26 5 a.m.-Noon Second-Round ActionThursday, May 27 5 a.m.-Noon Second-Round ActionFriday, May 28 5 a.m.-Noon Third-Round ActionSaturday, May 29 5 a.m.-Noon Third-Round ActionSunday, May 30 5 a.m.-Noon Round of 16 ActionMonday, May 31 5 a.
m.-Noon Round of 16 ActionTuesday, June 1 8 a.m.-Noon QuarterfinalsWednesday, June 2 8 a.m.-Noon QuarterfinalsThursday, June 3 5 a.m.-8 a.m. Men’s Doubles SemifinalsTennis Channel will also offer same-day replays of the men’s and women’s singles semifinals:Thursday, June 3 – 1 p.m.-6:30 p.m. (ET): women’s singles semifinalsFriday, June 4 – 5 p.m.-midnight (ET): men’s semifinalsTennis Channel’s French Open Tonight ScheduleFrench Open Tonight airs Sunday, May 23-Thursday, June 3, and typically runs from 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. ET, and is then repeated twice from 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.-5 a.m. The following exceptions are ET:Monday, May 24; Saturday, May 29; and Sunday, May 30 – 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m., followed by 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m., 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.-5 a.m.Additionally, shortened encore editions of French Open Tonight will air Tuesday, June 1, and Wednesday, June 2, from 5 a.m.-8 a.m.
ESPN2’s coverage plans are after the jump.
A couple of notes about ESPN2’s coverage. First, Dick Enberg’s commitments to the San Diego Padres prevent him from working at Roland Garros this year. In addition, Chris Fowler gets an increased role to filibuster during matches as he’ll double as host and play-by-play during the first week before leaving for South Africa and the World Cup. Looks like Cliff Drysdale will call more matches as a result which is a good thing. Chris McKendry who hosted during the US Open will fill that role for the French as well. Here’s the release.
French Open on ESPN2 & ESPN3.comAction Starts Sunday, May 23; Women’s Semis Live June 3Fans Can Follow the Action Wherever They Are via ESPN PlatformsThe best players in tennis will gather for the second Grand Slam tournament of the year on the red clay of Paris – Roland Garros, the 2010 French Open – beginning on ESPN2 when the event begins on Sunday, May 23. The network will present more than 56 hours, culminating with the women’s semifinals live Thursday, June 3. In addition, ESPN3.com will have more than 270 live hours of a multi-court offering, also starting May 23, and continuing all days ESPN2 is on the air.ESPN networks present all four Grand Slam events – and ESPN3.com delivers unmatched broadband coverage of the sport’s biggest events and more tournaments throughout the year – and have televised the French Open 1986 – 1993 and since 2002.After the opening day, ESPN2’s schedule will continue Tuesday, May 25 – Friday, May 28, and resume on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, and continue to June 3. ESPN2 will begin each day at noon – directly following Tennis Channel’s morning programming – except for June 3 with the women’s semifinals starting at 8 a.m. ET – and will generally continue until 6:30 p.m. (See schedule below.) For the fourth consecutive year, ESPN2 is working with Tennis Channel to bring viewers an almost around-the-clock tournament experience, with each channel cross-promoting the other’s schedule. Tennis Channel will produce all coverage for both channels, with each making use of its own on-air team.In addition, ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language U.S. sports network, will televise 25 hours from Paris starting Tuesday, May 25, and culminating with the women’s semifinals live Thursday, June 3. Luis Alfredo Alvarez, Javier Fran, and Jose Luis Clerc will call the matches, which will be chosen specifically for the network’s audience.Cliff Drysdale, the dean of ESPN’s tennis team, will be joined by Darren Cahill, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Brad Gilbert, Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver. Chris Fowler will host and call matches for the first week (before leaving for South Africa and ESPN’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup). Chris McKendry will also serve as an on-site host and Tom Rinaldi will provide features and reporting.ESPN3.comESPN3.com – formerly called ESPN360.com until this past April – will deliver more than 270 hours live from the three primary courts at Roland Garros on the days ESPN2 is televising — Sunday, May 23, plus Tuesday, May 25 – Friday, May 28 and Monday, May 31 – Thursday, June 3. Live action will start early in the morning with the first ball in the air and continue to the last shot of the day. ESPN3.com will show matches from a number of courts not televised on ESPN2, as well as the ESPN2’s programming, either live or later that day. Matches will also be available after they take place via VOD. The same service – still called ESPN360.com – is also available in Latin America with the same programming as in the U.S. and Spanish commentary.ESPN3.com is ESPN’s live sports broadband network, giving fans a 24/7 online destination that delivers more than 4,000 live, global sports events annually. It is the only broadband outlet with all four of tennis’ Grand Slam events, totaling 1,600 hours of action, and also carries nine ATP 500 tournaments and other tennis throughout the year.ESPN3.com is available at no cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection from an affiliated provider. ESPN3.com is currently available in more than 52 million homes. It is also available at no cost to 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks (those with “.edu” and “.mil” domains).Other ESPN PlatformsFans will have a variety of ways to follow the French Open with live action and updates on an array of ESPN platforms wherever they are and regardless of whether there is live television offered.ESPN.com will provide comprehensive coverage before, during and after the French Open, highlighted by an enhanced Pulse section – real-time scoring from all courts, plus continuous live polling with results revealed immediately in ESPN2’s telecasts. In addition to all the results, news, analysis, schedules and more, ESPN.com will provide live blogging throughout the tournament so fans can follow the action even when there is no live television coverage. Also, fans can watch “Digital Serve” with ESPN2 commentators discussing the latest action and previewing key matches on the days ESPN2 is on the air.ESPN Interactive TV, exclusive to DIRECTV, will present the French Open showing ESPN2 or Tennis Channel’s live coverage along with five other courts available with commentary. Other features include interactive data, the tournament draw, up-to-date scores, and daily order of play.ESPN Mobile TV, a 24/7 channel for wireless on FLO TV and MobiTV platforms, will provide 31 hours of live coverage, simulcasting most of ESPN2’s live programming, highlighted by the women’s semifinals Thursday, June 3.ESPN’s SportsCenter – in particular the live editions from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET – will follow the action closely with frequent updates, highlights and reports from Paris, as will ESPNEWS, the 24/7 all-sports news network. This will include live look-ins during SportsCenter and on ESPNEWS when ESPN2 is on the air.ESPN InternationalESPN International will present up to 130 hours of the French Open to 63 countries in Latin America and the Carribbean on a variety of regional networks. Matches will be chosen based on local interest and commentary will be offered in Spanish, Portuguese and English.Previewing the ActionFor the first time, Roger Federer comes to Paris as defending champion, having completed a career Grand Slam with his win last year. He followed that by breaking the record for career major titles by capturing his 15th at Wimbledon, and started 2010 in similar form with his 16th at the Australian Open. He has reached the semifinals of 23 consecutive Grand Slam events. Rafael Nadal will be looking to reclaim the French title he had won the previous four years. Other contenders include Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Robin Soderling, who defeated Nadal in Paris last year on his way to the final.On the women’s side, Svetlana Kuznetsova will defend her crown against a field led by Serena Williams, winner of this y
ear’s first Grand Slam title, in Australia, her 12th career major title. Willliams is the top-ranked women’s player, with her sister Venus ranked second as of May 17. It is the first time they have been ranked 1-2 since May 2003. Other top challengers include 2009 US Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic.ESPN – All Four Grand Slams. All in One Place.Tennis has been part of ESPN since its first week on the air and has provided many memorable moments, but it has never been as important as today, with the US Open joining the lineup in 2009, giving ESPN all four Grand Slam events, something no other network has ever done.ESPN debuted September 7, 1979, and the first tennis telecast was exactly one week later, September 14, a Davis Cup tie, Argentina at U.S. from Memphis with Cliff Drysdale on the call.Almost all the tennis is found on ESPN2, giving the network the identity as the destination for tennis fans and giving the sport a home that is flexible enough to carry extensive live programming – and adding to the schedule as storylines dictate. ESPN and ESPN2 both reach 99 million households nationwide. Also, ESPN Classic shows great matches from the past and the sport receives extensive coverage on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, broadband ESPN3.com, Spanish-language ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine.2010 French Open on ESPN2
Date Time (ET) Event Sun, May 23 Noon – 6 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Tue, May 25 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Wed, May 26 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Thur, May 27 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Fri, May 28 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Mon, May 31 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Round of 16 Live & Same-day action Tue, June 1 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Live & Same-day action Wed, June 2 Noon – 6:30 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Live & Same-day action Thur, June 3 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Women’s Semifinals Live 2010 French Open on ESPN3.com
Date Time (ET) Event Sun, May 23 5 a.m. – 6 p.m. Early Round Action Live Tue, May 24 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live Wed, May 25 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live Thur, May 27 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live Fri, May 28 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Early Round Action Live Mon, May 31 5 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Round of 16 Live Tue, June 1 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Quarterfinals Live Wed, June 2 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Live Thur, June 3 5 a.m. – 7 p.m. Women’s Semifinals Live 2010 French Open on ESPN Deportes
Date Time (ET) Event Tue, May 25 – Noon – 3 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Wed, May 26 Noon – 3 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Thur, May 27 Noon – 3 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Fri, May 28 Noon – 3 p.m. Early Round Action Live & Same-day action Mon, May 31 Noon – 3 p.m. Round of 16 Live & Same-day action Tue, June 1 Noon – 3 p.m. Quarterfinals Live & Same-day action Wed, June 2 Noon – 3 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Live & Same-day action Thur, June 3 8 a.m. – 12 noon Women’s Semifinals Live
More press releases coming up.
