WTT matches to air on OLN and The Tennis Channel
Published on June 21, 2006 under World TeamTennis (WTT) News Release
NEW YORK (June 21, 2006) --- Pete Sampras' return to professional tennis with the Newport Beach Breakers will be the centerpiece of the 2006 World TeamTennis Pro League television package, with WTT matches scheduled to air on OLN and The Tennis Channel throughout July and August, League officials announced today.
OLN will carry two of Sampras' WTT matches, including the early season contest with Newport Beach and five-time WTT champions the Sacramento Capitals, and Newport Beach's late season face - off against the Houston Wranglers. OLN will air the Boston Lobsters match against the reigning WTT champions, the New York Sportimes, which w ill feature last year's WTT Finals MVP Martina Hingis for the Sportimes and WTT newcomer and men's tennis standout Todd Martin competing for Boston.
OLN will also feature a match with the Philadelphia Freedoms, led by Venus Williams, taking on Houston. OLN will air the championship match from this season's WTT Finals with the top two teams in the League battling for the King Trophy.
In addition to matches on OLN, The Tennis Channel will carry three WTT matches, including the New York Sportimes traveling to Boston to face Martina Navratilova and the Lobsters, and the Springfield Lasers contest with Anna Kournikova and the Sacramento Capitals. The Tennis Channel also will carry the Newport Beach match against Houston which features Sampras.
As in previous seasons, The Tennis Channel will complement its 2006 WTT coverage with a classic WTT match each week during the season. This year's weekly classic matches take place Wednesdays, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
WTT veteran Luke Jensen will lead the commentating team for all WTT matches. Former tour standout Katrina Adams will join him for several telecasts.
"We are thrilled to be part of the growing collection of quality sports programming on both OLN and The Tennis Channel," said Ilana Kloss, WTT CEO/Commissioner. "Like World TeamTennis, OLN has continued to push the envelope and we feel the WTT brand of tennis is a perfect fit for the new direction of the network. The Tennis Channel has been a great partner with WTT for years and is a champion for our sport."
Comcast-owned OLN is currently available in almost 70 million households and is considered one of the hottest sports cable networks in America. The network just concluded its first season as the national cable home of the National Hockey League and covers best-in-class events like the Tour De France, The America's Cup, The Professional Bull Riders and Davis Cup tennis. The network is also the home of "Survivor" in syndication.
The Tennis Channel is the only cable television network devoted to tennis both on and off the court, with unparalleled coverage of the game, its elite championships and its superstar athletes. The network's extensive tournament rights include 43 of the top 50 competitions in the world. A combination of live sports and passionate lifestyle programming offers viewers instruction from the finest teachers and the latest on equipment and tennis getaways, along with in-depth player profiles, news and analysis, and the chance to relive the game's legendary matches.
World TeamTennis Stories from June 21, 2006
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