The tournament is in full swing on the singles and doubles fronts and Tennis Channel is the TV place to be for coverage of the BNP Paribas Open from Indian Wells, California.
Tennis Channel, with 12-hour blocks in place, will present nearly 100 hours of live play from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and close to 240 overall with encores. The prestigious tournament, which completes for the sobriquet of “fifth major” with the upcoming Sony Open Tennis from Biscayne, Fla., features nine of the top 10 players in the world on both the men’s (No. 3 David Ferrer) and women’s side (No. 1 Serena Williams) sides of the draws. Rafa Nadal and Maria Sharapova are the defending champions.
The network begins its coverage at 1:30 p.m. (ET) on all but one day, with lead-in show Live at the BNP Paribas Open. Set on the grounds of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden within the presence of thousands of tournament attendees, the 30-minute program is hosted by Brett Haber and Hall of Famer Tracy Austin, reprising their roles from the show's 2013 debut. Joining them is former World No. 1 doubles star Mark Knowles, whose championship career includes titles won at the US Open, French Open and Australian Open. Live at the BNP Paribas presents daily updates, news, special guests, player interviews and analysis to viewers, similar to the network's on-air approach at the U.S. Open. Throughout the day the grounds-based set will act as a hub for Tennis Channel activity.
Jim Courier, Mary Carillo, Justin Gimelstob and Lindsay Davenport, who will be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame this July, will also provide the calls, with an assist from basketball legend Lisa Leslie, who will make her Tennis Channel debut. Leslie, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion, will handle grounds reporting during the tournament and appear in select tournament desk segments.
Tennis Channel will provide coverage throughout the tournament, including replays of its concluding matches, which will air live on ESPN News and ESPN2.
Viewers on the go can check out Tennis Channel Everywhere, the network's free app, which is available to Apple and Android users and offers a variety of digital features, and viewing functionality for subscribers of select distribution partners.
Tennis Channel's Live BNP Paribas Open Match Schedule (Men's/Women's Singles Unless Otherwise Specified)
Date Time (ET) Event
Thursday, March 6 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. First Round
Friday, March 7 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. First Round, Second Round
Saturday, March 8 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Second Round
Sunday, March 9 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Second Round, Third Round
Monday, March 10 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Third Round
Tuesday, March 11 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Third Round, Round of 16
Wednesday, March 12 1:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Round of 16, Quarterfinals
Thursday, March 13 2 p.m.-8 p.m.;
10 p.m.-midnight Quarterfinals
Friday, March 14 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.;
9:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. Quarterfinal, Semifinal
Encore replays of the men's and women's singles semifinals and finals will air as follows (ET):
Saturday, March 15 - Women's Semifinals: 7 a.m.-11 a.m.; Men's Semifinals: 9 p.m.-3 a.m.
Sunday, March 16 - Men's Semifinals: 7 a.m.-11 a.m.; Women's Semifinals: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.;
Women's Final: 9 p.m.-11 p.m.; Men's Final: 11 p.m.-1 a.m.
Monday, March 17 - Women's Final: 1 a.m.-3 a.m., 6 p.m.-8 p.m., 10 p.m.-midnight;
Men's Final 8 p.m.-10 p.m.
Tuesday, March 18 - Men's Final: 12 a.m.-2 a.m.
