Re: T-Online sponsors ATP Masters series

In a message dated 10/17/00 1:15:54 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
tennisbiz_at_tennisserver.com writes:

<< http://www.adweek.com/daily/October/iq/iq102000-32.asp >>

According to the article, "Recent attempts by ATP Tour to reverse declining
interest in tennis have included purple tennis courts and weaker enforcement
of bad-behavior rules for players."

What should concern the ATP Tour and ISL, is the way the sport is presented
on television. USA Network's 95 hours of US Open coverage is a case in
point. On three seperate occasions, prime time men's singles matches were
abandoned prior to their conclusion. Now really, could any sport generate
interest among casual viewers when the expectation is that, after several
hours, network will not stay with competition to its conclusion? Can purple
courts change this perception?

Compare the manner in which tennis is presented with soccer telecasts --
another international sport with a smaller following (in terms of TV numbers)
than tennis. It's matches are shown as they happen, in their entirety, and
without commercial interruptions. If the ATP Tour wishes to promote tennis
interest, they should hire the marketing folks who persuaded the networks to
package soccer as its presented in the United States. The ATP Tour should
assume some responsibility for the way their product is presented on
television. I recommend that tennis executives spend more time watching
their product on television -- they wouldn't believe their eyes.

Tennis is, after all, a real sport. It should be telecast that way.

Lawrence Jeziak
TV and technology writer, Tennis Week (www.tennisweek.com)
TV tennis writer, America Online
Editor, RANT! -- free email newsletter dedicated to TV tennis viewers
LJeziak_at_aol.com
248-223-9737




Received on Tue Oct 17 2000 - 07:20:36 CDT