Tennis fans might have already gotten in on the action currently happening during the French Open at Roland Garros, but Tennis Channel is offering a free weeklong peek at tournament matches through a free mobile app for smartphones and tablets.
Tennis Channel Everywhere is available on iOS and Android, and began streaming online May 26. The free period is open to anyone with a compatible device and will end on June 2, whereby only subscribers will be able to access live matches thereafter. The free app marks the first time the specialty channel has delved into the mobile space to broadcast live content, and is including on-demand access to archived matches as well.
The network does have a history of streaming online, as its Web site began offering live coverage going back to 2007. The options look to be similar, with viewers being able to choose which match or which court they want to watch at any given time (so long as the matches are televised).
In addition to live and archived matches, there are highlights, interviews, post-game conferences and various short clips to capture the mood on the tournament grounds. A night show called French Open Tonight is also streamed live, as are daily news reports from around the world of tennis.
The tournament ends with the Men’s Final on June 9, so the free trial period will not include the quarterfinals, semis and finals for all the different categories.
Ken Solomon, chairman and CEO of Tennis Channel, called the app “version 1.0”, adding that it was just “a glimpse of what it will rapidly grow into” now that the network is committed to a mobile strategy that he didn’t elaborate on. There was also no word on whether or not there would be a free trial also for upcoming Wimbledon or U.S. Open Grand Slam tournaments.
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