Tennis Channel Getting Into TV ‘Racquet’

Tennis Channel Getting Into TV ‘Racquet’



SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Wireless Flash) – A new all-tennis cable channel could do for tennis what Fox did for boxing with Celebrity Boxing. When The Tennis Channel launches in autumn, viewers will likely see a lot of Hollywood celebrities competing in charity tennis matches Tennis Channel president and founder Steve Bellamy says he plans to hit up his dozens of his celeb pals to be in the matches, including Mickey Dolenz, Alan Thicke, David Spade and Jon Lovitz. Besides celebrity tournaments, the channel will also present pro tennis player profiles in the vein of The E! True Hollywood Story to which Bellamy says, “I defy you to find more interesting personalities” than tennis players. He claims pro tennis stars are dramatic because they are forced to lead a mature lifestyle before they grow up.

Wed 05-15-02