Tennis on NBC
Encyclopedia
Tennis on NBC is a television program
produced by NBC Sports
that broadcasts the main professional tennis tournaments in the United States.
(the long running Sunday public affairs program for NBC) is airing from 9-10 a.m. local time in most markets, though this may vary by markets due to commitments by affiliates to religious, E/I
or local public affairs programing, and varies several weeks in the summer due to morning coverage of Grand Slam
tennis and golf tournaments by NBC Sports
.
, Jack Kramer, Lindsey Nelson
, Don Budge
, Bill Stern
, and Bill Talbert
were among the commentators during this period.
beginning 1969
. Americans had made a tradition of NBC
's "Breakfast at Wimbledon" specials at weekends, where live coverage (which under the guidance of then-NBC Sports executive producer Don Ohlmeyer
and associate producer Bob Basche
, began in 1979
for the men and in 1982
for the women) started early in the morning (the US being a minimum of 5 hours behind the UK) and continued well into the afternoon, interspersed with commentary and interviews from Bud Collins
, whose tennis acumen and (in)famous patterned trousers are well-known to tennis fans in the USA. Collins was sacked by NBC
in 2007, but was promptly hired by ESPN
, the cable home for The Championships in the States. For many years, NBC's primary Wimbledon host was veteran broadcaster Dick Enberg
.
Effective the 2012 tournament, all live coverage (something of which NBC has been criticized for not doing), including the Finals, will be exclusively on ESPN, marking the second major tennis championship (after the Australian Open
) available in the United States exclusively on pay television. Thus, the 2011 tournament
marked the 43rd and final year (at least for the next 12 years) of NBC's coverage. NBC issued a statement saying it had been outbid for the rights to future broadcasts.
NEP Visions
has helped to televise many of the world’s major events, including three Olympic Games, two soccer World Cups and hundreds of other sporting events including the English and Scottish Premier League football, Wimbledon Tennis (for NBC and Turner Sports
), English Test Cricket, Horseracing and Championship Boxing.
. NBC shows weekend morning early round matches in the afternoon via tape-delay
. If a match is still being played, it will be shown live. ESPN2
or Tennis Channel cannot show NBC's tape-delayed matches. NBC also tape-delays the men's semifinal, broadcasting it in the late morning on the same day. They broadcast both finals live.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
produced by NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
that broadcasts the main professional tennis tournaments in the United States.
Overview
The usual time slot over the NBC network for Meet the PressMeet the Press
Meet the Press is a weekly American television news/interview program produced by NBC. It is the longest-running television series in American broadcasting history, despite bearing little resemblance to the original format of the program seen in its television debut on November 6, 1947. It has been...
(the long running Sunday public affairs program for NBC) is airing from 9-10 a.m. local time in most markets, though this may vary by markets due to commitments by affiliates to religious, E/I
E/I
E/I, which stands for "educational and informative," refers to a type of children's television programming shown in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission requires that every full-service Terrestrial television station in the U.S. show at least three hours of these television...
or local public affairs programing, and varies several weeks in the summer due to morning coverage of Grand Slam
Grand Slam
Grand Slam may refer to:-Card games:* In the game of contract bridge a bid to win all the tricks of that hand. By extension, the taking of all the important elements in an endeavour.-Equestrianism:...
tennis and golf tournaments by NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
.
US Open coverage
NBC broadcast the US Open as early as 1955 and at least up until 1961. Bud PalmerBud Palmer
John S. "Bud" Palmer is a former pro basketball player. He was a member of the original New York Knickerbockers, and was their leading scorer in their inaugural season 1946/47...
, Jack Kramer, Lindsey Nelson
Lindsey Nelson
Lindsey Nelson was an American sportscaster best known for his broadcasts of college football and New York Mets baseball.-Early life and career:...
, Don Budge
Don Budge
John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional...
, Bill Stern
Bill Stern
Bill Stern was a U.S. actor and sportscaster who announced the nation's first remote sports broadcast and the first telecast of a Major League Baseball game. In 1984, Stern was part of the American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame’s inaugural class which included sportscasting legends Red...
, and Bill Talbert
Bill Talbert
William Franklin "Billy" Talbert was an American tennis player and administrator.He was ranked in the U.S. Top 10 13 times between 1941 & 1954. He won nine Grand Slam doubles titles, and also reached the men’s doubles finals of the U.S. National Championship nine times. mainly with favorite...
were among the commentators during this period.
Wimbledon coverage
NBC broadcast The Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
beginning 1969
1969 Wimbledon Championships
The 1969 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament that was played on grass courts. It was the 2nd edition of the event in the Open Era and the 83rd since its formation...
. Americans had made a tradition of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's "Breakfast at Wimbledon" specials at weekends, where live coverage (which under the guidance of then-NBC Sports executive producer Don Ohlmeyer
Don Ohlmeyer
Don Ohlmeyer is an American television producer and former president of the NBC network's West Coast division. Currently, Don Ohlmeyer is a Professor of Television Communications at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California...
and associate producer Bob Basche
Bob Basche
Bob Basche is a former Emmy Award-winning associate producer for NBC's Sportsworld. Basche, who also served as head of talent and on-air promotion, is credited for coining the term "Breakfast at Wimbledon," which is used to promote the first live broadcast of the Wimbledon Finals in the early...
, began in 1979
1979 Wimbledon Championships
List of the 1979 Wimbledon Champions:-Men's singles: Björn Borg def. Roscoe Tanner, 6–7, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4*It was Borg's 8th career Grand Slam title, and his 4th Wimbledon title.-Women's singles: Martina Navrátilová def...
for the men and in 1982
1982 Wimbledon Championships
The 1982 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on :grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon in London in England...
for the women) started early in the morning (the US being a minimum of 5 hours behind the UK) and continued well into the afternoon, interspersed with commentary and interviews from Bud Collins
Bud Collins
-External links:*** 2001 interview with Collins*...
, whose tennis acumen and (in)famous patterned trousers are well-known to tennis fans in the USA. Collins was sacked by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in 2007, but was promptly hired by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, the cable home for The Championships in the States. For many years, NBC's primary Wimbledon host was veteran broadcaster Dick Enberg
Dick Enberg
Richard Alan "Dick" Enberg is an American sportscaster. He currently provides play-by-play for telecasts of San Diego Padres baseball on 4SD, following a long career calling various sports for such networks as NBC, CBS, and ESPN...
.
Effective the 2012 tournament, all live coverage (something of which NBC has been criticized for not doing), including the Finals, will be exclusively on ESPN, marking the second major tennis championship (after the Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
) available in the United States exclusively on pay television. Thus, the 2011 tournament
2011 Wimbledon Championships
The 2011 Wimbledon Championships took place at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, England, from 20 June to 3 July 2011. It was the 125th edition of the championships, and the third Grand Slam tournament of the year. It was played on grass courts and was part of the...
marked the 43rd and final year (at least for the next 12 years) of NBC's coverage. NBC issued a statement saying it had been outbid for the rights to future broadcasts.
NEP Visions
NEP Visions
NEP Visions, a division of NEP Broadcasting, is one of the largest Outside Broadcasting Facilities Companies in Europe. It has more than 26 years experience in facilities for the production of television virtually anywhere in the world....
has helped to televise many of the world’s major events, including three Olympic Games, two soccer World Cups and hundreds of other sporting events including the English and Scottish Premier League football, Wimbledon Tennis (for NBC and Turner Sports
Tennis on TNT
Tennis on TNT is a television program produced by the basic cable television network TNT that broadcasts the main professional tennis tournaments in the United States...
), English Test Cricket, Horseracing and Championship Boxing.
French Open coverage
NBC's coverage of the French Open began in 19811981 French Open
List of the 1981 French Open Champions:-Men's Singles: Björn Borg def. Ivan Lendl, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–1*It was Borg's 1st title of the year, and his 61st overall. It was his 11th career Grand Slam title, and his 6th French Open title .-Women's Singles: Hana Mandlíková def...
. NBC shows weekend morning early round matches in the afternoon via tape-delay
Broadcast delay
In radio and television, broadcast delay refers to the practice of intentionally delaying broadcast of live material. A short delay is often used to prevent profanity, bloopers, violence, or other undesirable material from making it to air, including more mundane problems such as technical...
. If a match is still being played, it will be shown live. ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
or Tennis Channel cannot show NBC's tape-delayed matches. NBC also tape-delays the men's semifinal, broadcasting it in the late morning on the same day. They broadcast both finals live.
Commentators
- Julie Anthony: 1976-1984
- Jimmy AriasJimmy AriasJames Arias is a former tennis touring professional player from the United States, a bronze medallist.From Grand Island, near Buffalo, New York, Arias's peak year was 1983, when as a 19 year-old he finished the year ranked World No. 6, having reached the U.S...
: Arias served as an analyst for NBC SportsNBC SportsNBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
coverage of Tennis at the 2008 Summer OlympicsTennis at the 2008 Summer OlympicsTennis competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were held from August 10 to August 17 at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre. The DecoTurf surface rendered the event a hardcourt tournament....
. - Tracy AustinTracy AustinTracy Ann Austin Holt is a former World No. 1 female professional tennis player from the United States who won the women's singles title at the US Open in 1979 and 1981 and the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1980, before a series of injuries cut her career short.-To 1980:Austin defeated...
- Don BudgeDon BudgeJohn Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional...
- Mary CarilloMary CarilloMary Carillo is an American sportscaster and former professional tennis player.-Tennis career:Carillo played on the women's professional tennis circuit from 1977 to 1980. She was ranked as high as number 33, in the WTA Rankings, from January through March 1980, then retired due to knee injuries...
: 1996-present - In May 2003, Carillo joined NBC SportsNBC SportsNBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
as an analyst on the network's French Open and Wimbledon coverage, having made her debut as an analyst on NBC for the 1996 Family Circle CupFamily Circle CupThe Family Circle Cup is a WTA Tour affiliated professional tennis tournament for women, held every year since 1973. The tournament is currently played on the green clay courts at the Daniel Island Tennis Center in Charleston, South Carolina, USA...
tennis event. - Rosie Casals
- Bud CollinsBud Collins-External links:*** 2001 interview with Collins*...
: 1972-2007 - During the 2007 Wimbledon tournament, Collins announced that NBC had chosen not to renew his contract and was letting him go. Collins had covered tennis for the network for 35 years. He insisted that he had no plans to retire and would continue to cover tennis for the Boston Globe. On July 8, 2007, the final day of the tournament, fellow Globe sportswriter Bob RyanBob RyanBob Ryan is an American sportswriter for The Boston Globe. He has been described as "the quintessential American sportswriter" and a basketball guru and is well known for his coverage of the sport including his famous stories covering the Boston Celtics in the 1970s. After graduating from Boston...
, on the ESPN TV show The Sports ReportersThe Sports ReportersThe Sports Reporters is a sports talk show that airs on ESPN at 9:30 a.m. ET every Sunday morning . It is broadcast from Bristol, Connecticut at the main ESPN studios. However, before 1999, it was broadcast from a studio in Manhattan. and from 1999-2010 it was recorded at the ESPN Zone at Times...
, ridiculed NBC for this decision. He said the 78-year-old Collins "still has his fastball" and praised the Globe for retaining Collins. - Jimmy ConnorsJimmy ConnorsJames Scott "Jimmy" Connors is an American former world no. 1 tennis player....
- Donald DellDonald DellDonald Dell is an attorney and was a professional tennis player, U.S. Davis Cup captain, and administrator. Dell was one of the first professional sports agents, having represented professional tennis players Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, and Ivan Lendl during pro tennis' golden age...
: Dell broadcast tennis for NBC television in the 1970s and '80s. - Dick EnbergDick EnbergRichard Alan "Dick" Enberg is an American sportscaster. He currently provides play-by-play for telecasts of San Diego Padres baseball on 4SD, following a long career calling various sports for such networks as NBC, CBS, and ESPN...
: 1978-2000 - As NBC's voice of the Wimbledon tennis championships (alongside Bud CollinsBud Collins-External links:*** 2001 interview with Collins*...
and, later, John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
), Enberg regularly concluded the network's coverage of the two-week event with thematically appropriate observations accompanied by a montage of video clips. - Chris EvertChris EvertChristine Marie "Chris" Evert is a former world number 1 professional tennis player from the United States. She won 18 Grand Slam singles championships, including a record seven championships at the French Open and a record six championships at the U.S. Open. She was the year-ending World No...
: 1990-2003 - Gayle GardnerGayle GardnerGayle Gardner is an American sportscaster who has worked for ESPN and NBC Sports beginning in 1987 until 1993.-Biography:Gardner got her first job as a sportscaster because she hired herself. She got her second job as a sportscaster because a guy died...
: 1987-1993 - Mike GormanMike GormanMichael "Mike" Gorman is a television play-by-play commentator for the Boston Celtics basketball team, currently broadcasting on the Comcast Sportsnet New England or the New England Sports Network cable channel...
: Gorman called tennisTennis at the 1992 Summer OlympicsThese are the final results for the tennis competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.American teenager Jennifer Capriati stunned German Steffi Graf in the women's singles final to win the gold medal...
at the 19921992 Summer OlympicsThe 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
Summer Olympics with Bud CollinsBud Collins-External links:*** 2001 interview with Collins*... - Julie HeldmanJulie HeldmanJulie Heldman is a retired American tennis player who won 22 professional tennis titles.In 1969 she was World No. 5, her highest career world ranking, and was ranked No. 2 in the U.S.-Tennis career:...
- Hilary Hilton
- Jack Kramer
- Bill MacateeBill MacateeBill Macatee is an American sports broadcaster.-Early life and career:Macatee was born in Rome, New York, and grew up in El Paso, Texas. In 1978, he earned a bachelor of science degree in speech from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas...
: Macatee joined NBC in 1982, where he hosted and reported on a variety of major events including late-night coverage of WimbledonThe Championships, WimbledonThe Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
and the World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, as well as the pre-game shows for the League Championship SeriesLeague Championship SeriesThe League Championship Series is the official name for a round of postseason play in Major League Baseball which has been conducted since 1969...
, Super Bowl XVIISuper Bowl XVIISuper Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
, and college football bowl games. - Barry MacKayBarry MacKayBarry MacKay is a former American tennis player and tournament director and a current tennis broadcaster. While competing in college for the University of Michigan, he won the singles title at the 1957 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship to clinch the team title for Michigan. He was also a finalist...
: He served as the play-by-play announcer for the NBC SportsNBC SportsNBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
coverage of tennis at the 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in China. - John McEnroeJohn McEnroeJohn Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
: 1992-present - Lindsey NelsonLindsey NelsonLindsey Nelson was an American sportscaster best known for his broadcasts of college football and New York Mets baseball.-Early life and career:...
- John NewcombeJohn NewcombeJohn David Newcombe, AO, OBE is a former World No. 1 tennis player.-Biography:He won seven Grand Slam singles titles, A natural athlete, Newcombe played several sports as a boy until devoting himself to tennis. He was the Australian junior champion in 1961, 1962, and 1963 and was a member of...
- Bud PalmerBud PalmerJohn S. "Bud" Palmer is a former pro basketball player. He was a member of the original New York Knickerbockers, and was their leading scorer in their inaugural season 1946/47...
- Ted RobinsonTed Robinson (sportscaster)Theodore "Ted" Robinson is an American sportscaster. He is currently the radio play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco 49ers, having taken over for longtime 49ers announcer, Joe Starkey, following Starkey's retirement in 2009.-Early life:Ted Robinson grew up in Rockville Centre, New York and...
: 2000-present - Tim RyanTim Ryan (sportscaster)Tim Ryan is an American sportscaster, currently a resident of Ketchum, Idaho.-Early life and career:Raised in Canada, Ryan graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1960, and took a job the newly-formed CFTO as an assistant sports director...
- Jim SimpsonJim Simpson (sportscaster)Jim Simpson is a retired American sportscaster, known for his smooth delivery as a play-by-play man and his versatility in covering many different sports. In 1997, he won the Sports Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2000 he was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters...
: -1979 - Hannah StormHannah StormHannah Storm is an American television sports journalist, serving as co-anchor of ESPN's SportsCenter Monday–Thursday mornings, and is also host of the NBA Countdown pregame show on ABC as part of the network's NBA Sunday game coverage.-Early life and career:Storm was born in Oak Park, Illinois,...
: 1992-2002 - Bill TalbertBill TalbertWilliam Franklin "Billy" Talbert was an American tennis player and administrator.He was ranked in the U.S. Top 10 13 times between 1941 & 1954. He won nine Grand Slam doubles titles, and also reached the men’s doubles finals of the U.S. National Championship nine times. mainly with favorite...