Tennis on TNT
TNT Sports (formerly Turner Sports) has occasionally televised tennis coverage on its networks in the United States, primarily TNT. Both of its broadcast packages to-date have been rights to Grand Slam events, including holding rights to Wimbledon from 2000 to 2002, and acquiring American rights to the French Open in 2025 in conjunction with the British TNT Sports networks and pan-European Eurosport networks.
History
[edit]From 2000 to 2002, Turner Sports held cable rights to the Wimbledon Championships alongside broadcast network NBC; TNT would broadcast 61 hours of daytime coverage over the length of the tournament, while CNN/SI would carry a nightly prime time block. At the time, it was the third major sports property to be split between NBC and Turner, including the NBA and NASCAR.[1] In 2002, with the closure of CNN/SI earlier in the year, its share of the coverage moved to CNNfn.[2] The package replaced coverage that had been carried by sister division HBO Sports for 25 years.[3][1] The cable rights moved to ESPN2 in 2003, followed by exclusive rights to the entire tournament in 2012.[4]
In June 2024, TNT Sports acquired the American rights to the French Open, in a multi-year deal (through 2034[5]) that also includes a renewal of Warner Bros. Discovery's pan-European rights to the tournament with TNT Sports (UK), Eurosport, and WBD-owned free-to-air channels in some European territories.[6][7][8] The coverage is being co-produced by TNT Sports' European and American operations, with talent and resource sharing between the divisions, and separate studio segments being produced for the American and British telecasts. The majority of television coverage is airing on TNT, with all matches streaming on Max, and TruTV carrying a daily "whiparound" show carrying rolling coverage from across all courts.[9][8]
Commentators
[edit]Wimbledon (2000–2002)
[edit]- Marv Albert[10] (men's play-by-play)
- Mary Carillo[11] (analyst/reporter/women's play-by-play)
- Jim Courier[12] (men's analyst)
- Zina Garrison[13] (women's analyst)
- Jim Huber[14] (essayist)
- Ernie Johnson Jr.[15] (studio host)
- Phil Jones[16] (reporter)
- Barry MacKay[17] (women's play-by-play)
- Martina Navratilova[18] (women's analyst)
French Open (2025–present)
[edit]Play-by-play
[edit]- Brian Anderson (2025–present)[19]
- Alex Faust (2025–present)[19]
- Patrick McEnroe (2025–present)[19]
- Mark Petchey (2025–present)[19]
Analysts
[edit]- John McEnroe (2025–present)[19]
- Lindsay Davenport (2025–present)[19]
- Jim Courier (2025–present)[19]
- Chris Evert (2025–present)[19]
- Caroline Wozniacki (2025–present)[19]
- Sam Querrey (2025–present)[19]
- Darren Cahill (2025–present)[19]
Reporters
[edit]- Sloane Stephens (2025–present)[19]
- Mary Joe Fernandez (2025–present)[19]
Studio
[edit]- Adam Lefkoe (Host) (2025–present)[19]
- Andre Agassi (Analyst) (2025–present)[19]
- CoCo Vandeweghe (Analyst) (2025–present)[19]
Contributors
[edit]- Venus Williams (2025–present)[19]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Dempsey, John (January 18, 2000). "TNT, NBC ace bids to Wimbledon rights". Variety.
- ^ Umstead, R. (June 17, 2002). "TNT's new Wimbledon doubles partner: CNNfn". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (January 19, 2000). "PLUS: BROADCASTING; Wimbledon Deals Total $30 Million". New York Times.
- ^ "ESPN acquires all Wimbledon live U.S. TV rights". ESPN.com. July 5, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "TNT Sports Reaches Expansive Agreement with French Tennis Federation to Be New Home of Roland-Garros in the U.S. Beginning in 2025n". June 11, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Steinberg, Brian (June 7, 2024). "Warner Bros. Discovery Snares U.S. Rights to French Open (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ Marchand, Andrew. "French Open, TNT Sports agree to 10-year, $650 million deal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Butts, Tom (May 22, 2025). "TNT, Eurosport Set Coverage Plans for French Open". TV Tech. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Priestley, Jenny (May 23, 2025). "TNT Sports, Eurosport play doubles at Roland-Garros 2025". TVBEurope. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "With cable move, Wimbledon set to join commercial crowd". Baltimore Sun. June 23, 2000.
- ^ Mushnick, Phil (July 2, 2001). "TNT OVER-SERVES MARTINA". New York Post. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Kramer, Staci D. (May 14, 2000). "TNT, CNN/SI Sign Courier for Wimbledon". Multichannel.
- ^ Dure, Jane. "Zina Garrison". Texas Monthly. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Gerby, Christopher (September 26, 2015). "Albert, Carillo, Courier Usher in New Era of Wimbledon Coverage". tennis-ontheline.com. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "Ernie Johnson, Jr. On-Air Talent Year Inducted". Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "Strawberries, cream and Marv Albert: 'Yesss!'". Post Bulletin. June 23, 2000. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Brockinton, Lagdon (June 26, 2000). "Tournament rookie Turner makes plans to get personal". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ "PLUS: TENNIS -- WIMBLEDON COVERAGE; Navratilova Shifts Roles". The New York Times. May 11, 2000. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "TNT Sports Assembles Grand Slam Commentator Roster for its Global Coverage of Roland-Garros ". TNT Sports. May 8, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
External links
[edit]- TNT (American TV network) original programming
- Tennis on television
- TNT Sports (United States)
- CNN/SI original programming
- 2000 American television series debuts
- 2002 American television series endings
- 2000s American television news shows
- 2020s American television series
- 2025 American television series debuts
- American television series revived after cancellation