Tennis Channel is partnering with LTN to migrate its 24/7 sports network from satellite to IP-based distribution. This move allows the Sinclair-owned Tennis Channel to eliminate the costs and constraints of satellite.
Tennis Channel is the US media home of the sport, and the only place to watch men’s ATP Tour and women’s WTA Tour competition throughout the year. In addition to its traditional linear service, the network is available as a direct-to-consumer product via its app and website, along with thousands of hours of live and on-demand matches. Tennis Channel also offers documentaries, coaching tips, special features and other original programs to millions of American fans.
Del Parks, President Technology at Sinclair, commented, “We have a very long and successful relationship with LTN. They are the only player that actually exceeds the reliability of legacy satellite. Just as importantly, LTN is far more than just a network. They deliver true end-to-end project management and hands-on support to simplify complex distribution transitions. Working alongside our technical team, led by Paul Spinelli, LTN is a critical partner as Sinclair explores new services and expands into new markets.”
With the C-band satellite spectrum increasingly at risk due to pending regulatory shifts aimed at expanding connectivity services, broadcasters are accelerating the move to IP alternatives. LTN’s global IP network built exclusively for live video, delivers satellite-grade reliability with unmatched scalability, visibility and control. Customers can efficiently create, customize and deploy channels to thousands of locations, tailoring content to different receivers and markets. LTN’s fully managed service handles the entire transition, offering real-time feed monitoring, in-network enrichment workflows for customized versioning, proactive issue resolution, and leveraging built-in diversity and redundancy through its Tier 1 data center infrastructure.
IP channel distribution enables limitless scale, streamlined group management and effortless customization while significantly reducing costs tied to legacy hardware systems and infrastructures. Transitioning to IP empowers sports networks to better manage the growing complexities associated with the increased cost of sports rights, production and distribution, all while delivering more customized content experiences. LTN’s extensive global reach allows major networks and channel owners to effortlessly scale IP distribution, unlock new markets, and maximize audience engagement.
“Major sports networks are eliminating satellite delivery so they can scale with ease while driving new revenue growth,” said Rick Young, LTN’s SVP, Global Products. “We’ve been fortunate to collaborate with the innovative teams at Sinclair and the Tennis Channel for many years. We’re excited to team up with them to find creative ways to leverage our multicast-ready global media enrichment network. Transitioning from satellite was just the beginning — the possibilities only grow from here.”
LTN enables sports networks and broadcasters to adopt efficient, scalable IP content distribution models that are simple to implement. Leading organizations like MSG Networks, Scripps, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), and TelevisaUnivision have successfully partnered with LTN to migrate from satellite to IP, gaining greater flexibility, scalability, and control.
