“WORLD OF TENNIS Presented by BNP Paribas” Weekly Television Series Returns For Second Season
Tennis Channel and MSG Plus to Air Eight-Week Series Beginning July 6
New York, NY – June 30, 2011 – MSG Sports and StarGames announced today that the popular “World of Tennis Presented by BNP Paribas” will return for a second season. This year, Tennis Channel will first air each episode on Wednesday nights throughout the summer at 10:00 p.m. followed by repeats on MSG Plus every Saturday at noon. The magazine-style show will debut July 6th on Tennis Channel(re-airs on Thurs. at 11:00 a.m. and Sun. at 7:30 p.m.) and July 9th on MSG Plus.
The annual eight-week series takes an inside look at the sport, from the professional tours to the history of the game. The magazine-style show covers the sport in a way that no one else does, providing something unique for tennis fans. Each 30-minute episode of “World of Tennis Presented by BNP Paribas” is hosted by former professional tennis player and current television personality, Justin Gimelstob.
"I'm very excited to be part of the 2011 edition of the World of Tennis presented by BNP Paribas,” said Justin Gimelstob. "I am especially looking forward to my new segment "Holding Court with Justin." The stretch of tennis between Wimbledon and the US OPEN is one of the most intense and interesting of the year. I am going to be catching up with some of my friends on and off court as the action heats up. It should be a lot of fun." Each week the show will highlight a special guest including Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova and Lyndsay Davenport as well as feature segments where you can hone your game with tennis and fitness tips from former world # 1 Ivan Lendl. Additionally, challenge your tennis acumen with new and riveting round table discussion topics brought to you by Tennis.com featuring the editors of Tennis Magazine. Gimelstob will also host a segment called “Holding Courtwith Justin,” an insider’s look at a variety of factors on the professional tour which leads off with an unusually frank sit down with American star, Roddick. Furthermore, USTA President Jon Vegosen will take us behind the scenes at the USTA providing an in depth look at each facet of the sport's governing body. “World of Tennis Presented by BNP Paribas” will be produced by StarGames and MSG Sports with accomplished producer Jennie Silverstein.Presenting sponsor BNP Paribas will be joined by partners Tennis Magazine, Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy, the United States Tennis Association, Wilson, Getty Images, Tennis Night in America and the BNP Paribas Showdown. The annual BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden, dating back to the inaugural event in 2008, has been produced by MSG Sports and StarGames. Featured players have included Roger Federer, Serena and Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Last year four legendary players and two classic rivalries took to the court when John McEnroe took on Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras squared off against Andre Agassi before over 17,000 fans and a worldwide television audience. About The Madison Square Garden Company The Madison Square Garden Company is a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the company's overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports consists of owning and operating sports franchises, including the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Connecticut Whale (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, track and field and tennis, as well as MSG Action Sports, an action sports and lifestyle division.MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from MSG's venues. MSG Media consists of the MSG Networks (MSG, MSG Plus, MSG HD and MSG Plus HD) regional sports networks and the Fuse Networks (Fuse and Fuse HD), a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in MSG's diverse collection of venues. These venues include Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and the Wang Theatre. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.
For more information contact: Larry Torres / MSG / 212-631-5178 Jessica Smyser / StarGames / 781-224-9655