Buckeye Serves Tennis TVE in Time for Aussie Open

Buckeye CableSystem has launched Tennis Channel as part of a multiyear carriage agreement with the dedicated racquet sports service.

The pact, financial terms of which were not disclosed, came in time for Buckeye HDTV Basic Pak subscribers to watch Tennis Channel's coverage of the 2015 Australian Open both on the linear network, as well as myriad devices via the TV Everywhere component of the agreement. The MSO is offering its customers TV Everywhere access to the network at no additional cost. Subscribers who have the HDTV Basic Pak are able to watch Tennis Channel’s linear coverage stream on the go through a multitude of platforms, including smartphones, tablets and computers from anywhere in the U.S.

“We’re excited to welcome Buckeye viewers back to Tennis Channel in time for the Australian Open,” said senior vice president of distribution Patrck Wilson. “Tennis Channel has 90 percent of the live tennis on U.S. television today, and with TV Everywhere capabilities tennis fans can tune in when, where and how they want to.”

Noted Buckeye chief administration officer Brad Mefferd: “We are happy that Tennis Channel is back on our programming lineup. The network does a great job of covering a sport so many of our customers follow.”

Tennis Channel's Australian Open coverage will be led by Bill Macatee, and feature Lindsay Davenport, Martina Navratilova, Jim Courier, Jon Wertheim, Justin Gimelstob and Brett Haber.

All told, Tennis will present nearly 200 hours of tournament coverage from Down Under, including more than 30 live match hours, 60 hours of encore replays and 12 hours of lead-in show Australian Open Live.

Buckeye served Tennis in the past under the network’s initial National Cable Television Cooperative agreement.