Buckeye Cablesystem Launches Tennis Channel in Lead Up To Australian Open

Tennis Channel and Buckeye CableSystem have reached a multiyear carriage agreement in time for the 2015 Australian Open complete with TV Everywhere access for all Buckeye Tennis Channel subscribers.

Buckeye has launched Tennis Channel throughout its network in Ohio, including Erie and Toledo, and southeast Michigan. Tennis Channel, with a year-round lineup that includes the Australian Open, the French Open, the US Open and Wimbledon, in addition to exclusive Davis Cup, Fed Cup events and the men’s and women’s year-end championships, is widely distributed through Buckeye’s HDTV Basic Pak.

As a part of Buckeye’s rollout of Tennis Channel, it is offering its customers TV Everywhere access to the network at no additional cost. Subscribers who have the HDTV Basic Pak will be 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 Patrick Wilson, senior vice president, distribution, Tennis Channel. “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.”

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

During the Australian Open, Tennis Channel on-air talent Bill Macatee, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Navratilova, Jim Courier, Jon Wertheim, Justin Gimelstob and Brett Haber bring fans nearly 200 hours of tournament coverage. Tennis Channel plans more than 30 live match hours, with 60 hours of encore replays and 12 hours of lead-in show Australian Open Live.

Buckeye carried Tennis Channel in the past, as part of the network’s initial National Cable Television Cooperative agreement.