Tennis Channel Slated to Start Next Year

An investors group on Tuesday announced formation of the Tennis Channel, to start next year. The Tennis Channel’s planned mix of tournament coverage, instructional programming and news mimics the Golf Channel, a successful 7-year-old venture already in about half the nation’s cable homes. “This is an idea whose time has come,” said David Meister, the channel’s chief executive. Frank Biondi, former head of Viacom and Universal Studios, is the lead investor. He said $30 million to $100 million has been committed to launch the channel. Another investor is sports business company IMG, which owns and manages some tennis tournaments, owns tennis academies and manages some players.