[*Jean*]

http://brl-tv.blog.leparisien.fr/arc...arrive-en.html

interesting parts translated into English:

MCS Tennis: first European TV channel 100% tennis.
The channel has a contract with the WTA Tour to broadcast 22 live tennis events per season for 4 seasons + 15 ATP 250 tournaments.
In addition to being available in France, MCS Tennis will be available in 50 countries, including Portugal, Israel, Belgium and French-speaking parts of Africa. This wish of international development will be translated into the launching of 4 international versions, including one in English.

As far as France is concerned, news are confirmed:
France Télévisions will broadcast the French Open, the Monte-Carlo Open ATP 1000, Fed Cup/Davis Cup matches of French teams.
Canal+ and Sport+ will broadcast 8 ATP 250 tournaments, 8 WTA International tournaments, 75% of ATP 500 tournaments, and all ATP 1000 tournaments. Canal+ also has the rights for Wimbledon.
Eurosport has the rights for the Australian, the French and the US Opens.

[ShimSham]

I had no idea this was going on. Really sad news for me.

[Jorn]

"Ud over rettighederne til at sende 40 turneringer på fransk område, har MCS også erhvervet rettighederne til turneringer i 50 lande, herunder Portugal, Israel, Belgien og fransktalende Afrika. Dette ønske om international udvikling afspejles også af lanceringen fire internationale versioner, en på engelsk."


What 50 countries will that be in EU?

[manixdk]

The part about being the first European all-tennis channel is nonsense. Supertennis has been for a couple of years now. Broadcasting in Italian for free on satellite Hotbird 13E and in Italy on the free digital domestic platform.

[manixdk]

And Cmore in Scandinavia has had an all-tennis channel for a couple of months now.

[Hedberg]

There was news about this on the WTA website after the US Open. They list countries like Israel, Luxembourg and those sub-Saharan Afican countries. France, Belgium and Portugal seem to be the three important countries in that deal.

Apparently nothing to do with the UK, Germany, Eastern Europe or the Nordic countries.

[FORZA SARITA]

Originally Posted by manixdk

The part about being the first European all-tennis channel is nonsense. Supertennis has been for a couple of years now. Broadcasting in Italian for free on satellite Hotbird 13E and in Italy on the free digital domestic platform.

this
long life to SuperTennis

[Marilyn Monheaux]

Excuse me, if it's already been posted, but what on channel will I be able to watch tennis in Germany? None?

[Mitten Kitten]

Originally Posted by manixdk

The part about being the first European all-tennis channel is nonsense. Supertennis has been for a couple of years now. Broadcasting in Italian for free on satellite Hotbird 13E and in Italy on the free digital domestic platform.

this

anw ES choice makes sense and WTA is the only one to blame for that. They (WTA) are giving more and more space to the "new markets" cancelling events in Europe in favore of Asia - Middle East, whose time zone is horrible for Europeans and ES surely doesn't get as many viewers early in the morning as they did showing the high quality matches of the European Indoor swing, considering that with the American Swing often being played late in the night for Europeans they broadcast only 2-3 months of tennis on a good time.

[Bronx19]

As long as someone is there it matters not, just stream it.

[Hedberg]

I don't think this is good for anyone. I still think the WTA have made a mistake and are overpricing their product. Some new obscure pay-tv channel doesn't sound convincing. And if their main program is WTA tennis, I just don't think it will interest that much. I don't see people paying just for WTA tennis. On the other hand I think Eurosport is in a bit of trouble. What do they have left? I mean left at all? Three Grand Slams and some cycling classics and that's it?

I just can't see a channel with three of the four biggest tennis tournaments in the world and nothing else? They have to get some exhos or even some challengers or very minor tournaments. The hundreds of hours of tennis is a huge loss. How are they gonna fill it? And let's be realistic. Ski jumping, reruns and wrestling can only cover about 30%. Maybe.

[PhilePhile]

Originally Posted by Hedberg

I don't think this is good for anyone. I still think the WTA have made a mistake and are overpricing their product. Some new obscure pay-tv channel doesn't sound convincing. And if their main program is WTA tennis, I just don't think it will interest that much. I don't see people paying just for WTA tennis. On the other hand I think Eurosport is in a bit of trouble. What do they have left? I mean left at all? Three Grand Slams and some cycling classics and that's it?

I just can't see a channel with three of the four biggest tennis tournaments in the world and nothing else? They have to get some exhos or even some challengers or very minor tournaments. The hundreds of hours of tennis is a huge loss. How are they gonna fill it? And let's be realistic. Ski jumping, reruns and wrestling can only cover about 30%. Maybe.

What might be on ES's shopping list ...

Women - soccer,basketball,volleyball (beach volleyball),handball,boxing,hockey,golf,waterpolo, rugby,cricket, billiards, darts (two Russians in the top 10), various types of bowls, netball,squash, table tennis,synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics,baseball ...

For the rest of the list, see http://womensportreport.com/ .

[Jajaloo]

This is upsetting.

Good thing Channel 7 have Sam Smith contracted for the AO. I love her commentating!

[Pierre75]

Sad news.

[laurie]

Originally Posted by manixdk

The part about being the first European all-tennis channel is nonsense. Supertennis has been for a couple of years now. Broadcasting in Italian for free on satellite Hotbird 13E and in Italy on the free digital domestic platform.

Supertennis broadcasts in the clear in HD as well. But of course they do not have the big tournaments, but they do have Davis and Federation cup live coverage.