Tennis Channel has added an ace—inking a multiyear deal for icon Bud Collins to serve in a variety of capacities.
For Tennis, the doyen of the sport’s writers and commentators, will not only appear on its air, offering commentary during its match coverage, but will be involved in original series and in providing content to Tennis.com.
Collins, who had been a fixture on NBC’s coverage of Wimbledon for decades until he was dropped after the 2007 tournament, recently signed a deal to offer his insights for ESPN’s coverage of Grand Slam events, beginning next year.
“I’m extremely pleased to be joining the Tennis Channel, and look forward to being part of an exceptional team,” Collins, who has appeared on the network in a number of capacities in the past, said in a statement. “I’ve admired Tennis Channel’s pioneering innovations that have brought many areas and events of the game to the screen for the first time. It’s going to be a great new experience and fun for me.”
Collins has been associated with tennis for more than 50 years, beginning his media career as a Boston Herald reporter for the sport in 1955. He moved to the Boston Globe in 1963, where he continues to write a tennis column. Since then he has contributed to a variety of publications, including Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Tennis Week, and Tennis magazine.
