Tennis Channel Chair & CEO Ken Solomon said his network has become an "overnight success that’s probably 13 years in the making.” Solomon noted ratings are up and "distribution is up radically” with the channel now in 60 million homes, “so that tipping point moment has happened.” He added the net is “focused” on attracting more “young viewers.” Tennis Channel's Martina Navratilova said the “biggest reason” for the rising numbers are “social media, the internet (and) the international aspect of the sport” (“Power Lunch,” CNBC, 8/27).
GETTING TO YES? FORBES' Barry Bloom cited a source as saying that the Yankees are planning to "buy back the controlling interest in the YES Network" that the MLB club sold to Fox four years ago. The re-acquisition is "slated to occur prior to the closing of the sale of Fox properties to Disney early next year" for $71.3B. The Yankees, who own the remaining 20%, would "have to pay fair market value to buy back the rest of the network." The team was "considering that possibility even if Disney were able to hold on to all the RSNs in the transaction" (FORBES.com, 8/28).
PEAKS & VALLEYS: In Illinois, Mike Monahan noted the Ohio Valley Conference and ESPN have "reached an extension of their media rights agreement, which will now include a minimum of 600 conference events on ESPN+." In total, 36 OVC football games "will be streamed on ESPN+ this season." Another eight games "will be streamed live on ESPN3 as part of the league’s Game of the Week package." The OVC Men’s basketball championship game "will continue to air" on either ESPN or ESPN2, with ESPNU and ESPNews "broadcasting additional events" (JG-TC.com, 8/27).
