Al Jazeera going to take over Tennis Channel?

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
Would they still pursue the lawsuit of Comcast? Maybe they cuold use that as a bargaining chip.

I think the channel makes money so maybe not a bad investment for them.
 

Fifth Set

Professional
This is one of those things that may feel like a good idea in the short term. AJ has a ton of money and Tennis Channel is an under utilized asset. So we might well find that AJ overpays, is willing to spend and comes in with higher budget programming, streaming, etc.

However, in the long run, there is no question that "editorial control" would be lost. This could impact everything from sponsors, tournaments shown, players featured and announcers. Put another way, those wishing to see the end of Gimelstob as an announcer may get their wish - for reasons unrelated to his horrible announcing!

If you don't believe that, you haven't read or watched AJ!
 

Dgpsx7

Professional
This is one of those things that may feel like a good idea in the short term. AJ has a ton of money and Tennis Channel is an under utilized asset. So we might well find that AJ overpays, is willing to spend and comes in with higher budget programming, streaming, etc.

However, in the long run, there is no question that "editorial control" would be lost. This could impact everything from sponsors, tournaments shown, players featured and announcers. Put another way, those wishing to see the end of Gimelstob as an announcer may get their wish - for reasons unrelated to his horrible announcing!

If you don't believe that, you haven't read or watched AJ!

haha, I sadly know exactly what you are talking about :-D
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
This is one of those things that may feel like a good idea in the short term. AJ has a ton of money and Tennis Channel is an under utilized asset. So we might well find that AJ overpays, is willing to spend and comes in with higher budget programming, streaming, etc.

However, in the long run, there is no question that "editorial control" would be lost. This could impact everything from sponsors, tournaments shown, players featured and announcers. Put another way, those wishing to see the end of Gimelstob as an announcer may get their wish - for reasons unrelated to his horrible announcing!

If you don't believe that, you haven't read or watched AJ!

still better than any of the american stations...because they don't interfer with editorial control.
 

Fifth Set

Professional
still better than any of the american stations...because they don't interfer with editorial control.

Make whatever moral equivalency arguments you wish, but it would be very naive to assume that politics and sports can be separated when dealing with the Middle East.

We just had this come up in our sport a few years ago with Peer blacklisted by the Dubai event. Tennis Channel played a positive role in trying to deal with that. Would "Al Jazeera Tennis" have done the same? No way.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/tennis/story?storyId=3912927&src=desktop
 

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
I was in Dubai on business during the Miami Open (or Indian Wells, can't remember)... the hotel had Aljazeera sport broadcasting tennis.

they had an audio feed of Jason Goodall and Robbie Koenig (love those guys) on the English option and the infamous enthusiastic guy on the Arabic (at least that's who it sounded like)... Amazingly, there were almost no ads... got to see Gasquet change his grips during changeovers, Blake have a series of debates with the umpire... was kinda cool, really got immersed in the tennis. I'm pretty sure they'll still have lots of ads/commercials on TC if they end up buying it. No one says "no" to more money...

I guess that's how a lot of folks in the region get their tennis.
 
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Relinquis

Hall of Fame
Qatar is the only country in the gulf that actually has diplomatic relations with Israel... it also has the biggest US military base in the Middle East... so i don't know what point you're trying to make with regards to buying Tennis Channel... they're going to host the World Cup... It's kinda a big deal in terms of sport. Yeah, Pe'er has played tennis in Qatar.

Dubai is part of another country entirely UAE... They had to sell of part of a ports business in the US when they bought the British parent company (P&O). There was a big issue about this, it was during Bush Jr's presidency. It's not the same as Qatar.

I work in M&A... both countries own assets throughout the world (US included). Billions worth (just read the Financial Times). It's not a big deal really. They still have to follow US rules. I think you need to chillax. It's not like they're going to buy CNN...

Make whatever moral equivalency arguments you wish, but it would be very naive to assume that politics and sports can be separated when dealing with the Middle East.

We just had this come up in our sport a few years ago with Peer blacklisted by the Dubai event. Tennis Channel played a positive role in trying to deal with that. Would "Al Jazeera Tennis" have done the same? No way.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/tennis/story?storyId=3912927&src=desktop
 
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Fifth Set

Professional
... It's not like they're going to buy CNN...

Not that it matters - CNN couldn't get any worse! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Seriously, I'm sorry you missed the point. Not about UAE vs Qatar or treatment of just Jews. Editorial control much broader than that. Apparently you haven't read / watched AJ (a ridiculously anti-American outlet) or learned much from your trips to the Middle East about the disdain the locals have for the West.
 

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
Lol, the dude called Federer "lazy."

lol... the "translation" next point "Look people, here we see the god, the maestro Wazzzzup people, everyone put your hands up!!"

that clip is gold... guy has a sense of humour. although it's clear the announcer really is a Federer fan.
 

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
Not that it matters - CNN couldn't get any worse! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Seriously, I'm sorry you missed the point. Not about UAE vs Qatar or treatment of just Jews. Editorial control much broader than that. Apparently you haven't read / watched AJ (a ridiculously anti-American outlet) or learned much from your trips to the Middle East about the disdain the locals have for the West.

lol @ cnn comment... good one

i know what you mean and understand your concerns, re editorial control and political influence and i'm sure aljazeera has it's own bias, but we're talking about a tennis channel. apart from extra coverage of the ATP 250 and the WTA event that are held in Qatar i can't see how this is going to be a big deal.

by the way, the locals range in opinions, just as they do everywhere else in the world. they're not defined by aljazeera, just as american's and brits aren't defined by foxnews/skynews or CNN/BBC... most people just want to live a normal family life and aren't too concerned with what's happening half way around the world... unless it's tennis ;)
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
Make whatever moral equivalency arguments you wish, but it would be very naive to assume that politics and sports can be separated when dealing with the Middle East.

We just had this come up in our sport a few years ago with Peer blacklisted by the Dubai event. Tennis Channel played a positive role in trying to deal with that. Would "Al Jazeera Tennis" have done the same? No way.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/tennis/story?storyId=3912927&src=desktop

it's not a moral equivalency,it's not being an arrogant american. it's someone who has seen world and actually has seen things beyond the propoganda simplistic americans are feed on a daily basis. al jazeera has been in non-arab, non-muslim european countries.

what positive role? it was a non-issue made public by pro-zionist media. did they talk about her time in the israeli military and her role in the continunce of the occupation. last i checked it venus williams who contributed most to a solution. and of course al jazz wouldn't cover it, they actually have standards. the us media not so much.
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
Not that it matters - CNN couldn't get any worse! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Seriously, I'm sorry you missed the point. Not about UAE vs Qatar or treatment of just Jews. Editorial control much broader than that. Apparently you haven't read / watched AJ (a ridiculously anti-American outlet) or learned much from your trips to the Middle East about the disdain the locals have for the West.

you are a tinfoil hat wearer i see.
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
I was in Dubai on business during the Miami Open (or Indian Wells, can't remember)... the hotel had Aljazeera sport broadcasting tennis.

they had an audio feed of Jason Goodall and Robbie Koenig (love those guys) on the English option and the infamous enthusiastic guy on the Arabic (at least that's who it sounded like)... Amazingly, there were almost no ads... got to see Gasquet change his grips during changeovers, Blake have a series of debates with the umpire... was kinda cool, really got immersed in the tennis. I'm pretty sure they'll still have lots of ads/commercials on TC if they end up buying it. No one says "no" to more money...

I guess that's how a lot of folks in the region get their tennis.

good post.
 

Fifth Set

Professional
...it was a non-issue made public by pro-zionist media...

Ah, I see, it's not the blacklisting of athletes or Al Jazeera we should be concerned about, but rather that pesky "pro-Zionist media" at ESPN. :shock:

Thanks for proving my point that there is something to be concerned about here.

Oh well, where logic can't find an audience, at least we still have humor (is that a 17 year old Sharapova he crudely photoshopped?!)...

http://www.thehopeforamerica.com/pr...change-if-al-jazeera-buys-the-tennis-channel/
 
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TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
Ah, I see, it's not the blacklisting of athletes or Al Jazeera we should be concerned about, but rather that pesky "pro-Zionist media" at ESPN. :shock:

Thanks for proving my point that there is something to be concerned about here.

Oh well, where logic can't find an audience, at least we still have humor (is that a 17 year old Sharapova he crudely photoshopped?!)...

http://www.thehopeforamerica.com/pr...change-if-al-jazeera-buys-the-tennis-channel/

atheletes/ppl/celebrities are allowed or not allowed in countries all the time. what you don't seem to get is peer isn't a random person they picked on. your same article never mentioned her military background.....so yes it was a biased pro zionist article.


when you start using logic then we can have a conversation.......

love your link-so you are racist and paranoid.
 

volleygirl

Rookie
Make whatever moral equivalency arguments you wish, but it would be very naive to assume that politics and sports can be separated when dealing with the Middle East.

We just had this come up in our sport a few years ago with Peer blacklisted by the Dubai event. Tennis Channel played a positive role in trying to deal with that. Would "Al Jazeera Tennis" have done the same? No way.

http://m.espn.go.com/general/tennis/story?storyId=3912927&src=desktop


Great point Fifth Set. I think this is a BAD idea from the get go.
 
I'm hoping that an American company will purchase it and improve it. That could even help spur marketing tennis in the U.S. to bolster fan and junior tennis. That company should strive to make the U.S. in the pro ranks in the years to follow. Let's see how this plays out.
 
It's already owned by American investors; what reason is there to think a different group would improve it? And I doubt its mission is going to be American tennis when one of the goals is to make the channel more international in distribution.
 

hollywood9826

Hall of Fame
It's already owned by American investors; what reason is there to think a different group would improve it? And I doubt its mission is going to be American tennis when one of the goals is to make the channel more international in distribution.

How american is tennis now anyway?

The only way a tennis channel survivies IMO is with more of an internatinal flavor to get worldwide audiences.

Unless they start maing WTA players re-enact the good scenes in basic instinct and show them from 2AM-4AM every saturday night. its like when they had free showtime weekends and everyone watched emanulle and red-shoe diaries. People would pay 10 bucks a month to watch 2 hours of programming a week. heck maybe even 20 bucks.
 
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It's already owned by American investors; what reason is there to think a different group would improve it? And I doubt its mission is going to be American tennis when one of the goals is to make the channel more international in distribution.

They should be able to pull it off with it remaining an American company. Perhaps different ownership would do a better job with it. You could blend international appeal with a concerted effort to promote American tennis too. I don't see the two as being mutually exclusive. I just wish they'd shake up the programming some. They have too many replays of matches for one thing in my opinion. I'm glad that we at least have a Tennis Channel though.
 

Relinquis

Hall of Fame
Sorry guys but most of the subtitles on that vid are fake
Except the envolee lyrique about the maestro

thanks man. i think most realise that, but it's still so funny... especially since he says maestro so much and is so enthusiastic!

can tell he's a real fan... he's got to be.
 
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