NAB 2024: Tennis Channel Names First Europe-Based Executive Matthias Hahn as General Manager of the Network's German-Language Platforms
Tennis Channel has appointed its first Europe-based executive – Matthias Hahn – who is general manager of the network’s German-language platforms. In this role he will build a local executive team in Munich and oversee the growth of Tennis Channel in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Hahn begins this week and reports to Andy Reif, senior vice president, Tennis Channel International, who is based in the network’s Los Angeles headquarters.
Hahn will manage all aspects of Tennis Channel Germany (referred to as Tennis Channel in local markets). This includes establishing a vision for the platform and strategy for expanding its subscriber base, engagement and profitability. He and his team will guide sponsor, marketing, pricing and partnership decisions and work closely with the network’s U.S. digital team on the Tennis.com Germany website. The group will also maintain important relationships with national tennis federations and other Europe-based leaders and businesses in the tennis industry.
The Tennis Channel’s Matthias Hahn
“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Matthias join us at the helm of Tennis Channel as our first executive in Europe, managing the German-speaking region,” said Reif. “His mixture of media industry knowledge and passion for tennis fits perfectly with our goals.”
Hahn comes to Tennis Channel from TiVo, where he had been senior sales director, Europe, Middle East and Africa since 2022. While there he saw to the monetization of free ad-supported streaming television channels and advertising-based video-on-demand. He also managed the Vodafone TV account in eight European countries.
He previously worked at Sky Germany from 2007-2022, rising from manager to senior vice president, commercial distribution. Hahn was responsible for distribution agreements and content partnerships with such platforms as Amazon and DAZN at the company.
“As a big tennis fan, I have been following the development of Tennis Channel with great interest for many years and am delighted to be able to use my network and experience to help drive the channel’s international expansion,” said Hahn.
Hahn lives in Munich with his wife and their two children. He is an accomplished amateur tennis player in his own right: as captain of the country’s 45-and-older team, he led it to a bronze medal at the International Tennis Federation’s Masters World Team Championships in Turkey last year.
Launched in 2020, Tennis Channel Germany was Tennis Channel’s first footprint outside the United States. A subscription streaming service and a free ad-supported streaming television channel, the platform is distinct from its United States counterpart with programming that is tailored to audiences in the region. This includes series hosted by and focused on players from Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as classic matches with all-time greats from the area. Like the American version of the channel, Tennis Channel Germany offers top-level live tennis throughout the year, with matches from the men’s and women’s tours, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup and other events.
Tennis Channel and its sibling network T2, which are owned by Sinclair, Inc., are the only television-based multiplatform destinations dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle. The networks have the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television in one of the world’s most voluminous sports, with multiple men’s and women’s tournaments and singles, doubles and mixed competition throughout the year. Tennis Channel and T2 have rights at the four majors – US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open) and Australian Open – and are the exclusive U.S. homes of all men’s ATP World Tour and women’s WTA Tour competitions, Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, United Cup, and Laver Cup.
Direct-to-consumer streaming service Tennis Channel Plus is available to everyone in the United States and allows subscribers to select from another 4,500 live and on-demand matches and award-winning content from short-form to films throughout the tennis season. Tennis Channel International brings live competition and network content to markets in Europe and Asia via digital subscription and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels.
Additional platform www.tennis.com is the largest digital outlet dedicated to the sport. Tennis Channel also manages a network of close to 20 podcasts and FAST channel Pickleballtv, a partnership with the Professional Pickleball Association.