studded field was joined by several of the PPA Tour ’ s finest players .
“ Tennis Channel and the PPA Tour are doing something that hasn ’ t been done before : taking a fast-growing sport and attaching an experienced , state-of-the-art media arm to its development in the form of Pickleballtv ,” said Ken Solomon , president of Tennis Channel .
“ We have no doubt that 24 / 7 consistent daily coverage of the best players , events and news on a dedicated pickleball channel will generate new fans and give existing ones a place to call home , expanding the sport ’ s overall reach and global popularity . We ’ ve driven massive new awareness with Tennis Channel during the past two decades and we expect nothing less with this exciting new network and explosive young pro sport , and easy-to-learn , highly addictive grassroots game .”
Part of the network ’ s new programming will include an ongoing feature called “ Getting to Know You ,” where viewers can get an inside and personal look at some of the sport ’ s brightest stars — players like Anna Leigh Waters , Ben Johns , Catherine Parenteau and Tyson McGuffin , among many others . Numerous tennis players have recently made their way over to the sport of pickleball and are now playing full time . These include Jack Sock and Sam Querry for the men , and Genie Bouchard for the women .
Instructional content will also fill Pickleballtv ’ s daily programming and help amateur players with their game , featuring episodes on serve strategy , dinking , volley drills , rules and etiquette . It will be a one-stop shop for all things pickleball .
“ The PPA Tour has worked in lockstep with the Tennis Channel , and we ’ re proud to launch Pickleballtv coinciding with the largest tournament in pickleball history . There are so many exciting things happening in our sport right now , and the addition of daily media coverage capable of reaching an unprecedented audience for the sport is a watershed moment for pickleball enthusiasts everywhere who want continuous access to a host of unique and innovative content ,” said Connor Pardoe , founder and CEO of the PPA Tour .
“ The PPA Tour is home to tremendously gifted athletes who deserve to be household names , and Pickleballtv
Kamrynn Blackwood interviewing Collin Johns at the new PBTV desk in Dallas at the USA Pickleball National Championships in November 2023 . Credit : Carvana PPA Tour .
will facilitate that transition . Prepare to be entertained with a variety of outstanding programming that will take your fandom to new heights !”
According to the latest Sports & Fitness Industry Association Topline Participation Report , the fastestgrowing sport in the United States for three straight years has been pickleball , with participation increasing an astonishing 159 percent during that timeframe . Now , with a continuous channel solely dedicated to pickleball , players and enthusiasts alike will more than get their fill for the sport that is getting known across the globe .
Major League Pickleball , the PPA Tour ’ s team league , has captured the attention of the sports world with many notable athletes deciding to become owners — household names like Tom Brady , Drew Brees , LeBron James , Chris Evert , Naomi Osaka and Hall of Famer Tracy Austin .
As part of the new relationship , most of the PPA Tour matches will appear live on Tennis Channel ’ s various media platforms with the tennis network producing all of the events .
One more major step in the ascension of the sport of pickleball . What ’ s next on the horizon ? Only time will tell . •
Drew Wathey is a published author and screenwriter (“ A Season With Hope ”) and former director of communications for the PGA Tour ’ s Phoenix Open . Wathey is the owner of SportsLink , a home-based sports public relations and marketing company . He is also a national sports anchor for iHeart Radio . His family lives in Phoenix , Arizona .
MAY / JUNE 2024 | MAGAZINE 47