The Tennis Channel has announced that it is hiring Matt Graham to serve as its senior vice president of direct-to-consumer (DTC) and streaming business development, a newly created role in accordance with the company’s evolving means of consumption. In the new role, Graham will be leading the strategy to make Tennis Channel’s television network and content available to consumers through a new streaming platform that is set to be released next year. As part of the role, he will work closely with network president Ken Solomon, along with Bill Simon, who works as the executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of the broadcast entity.
Graham enters the role having previously worked as the general manager of streaming services Acorn TV and Sundance Now, both of which emanated from AMC Networks. For Acorn TV specifically, the streaming service won two Emmy Awards, expanded to more than 24 countries and increased its audience 20-fold, allowing it to become North America’s largest streaming platform specializing in premium British and international television. Additionally, Graham also worked at PBS Digital where founded and led PBS Digital Studios, helping the platform develop more than 30 original digital series. The platform has built an audience of more than 25 million subscribers and 2 billion views since its launch in 2012.
Before working in digital media, Graham worked in advertising as a commercial editor for Fortune 500 clients including Sprint, Chevron, Virgin and Electronic Arts. Afterwards, he and Gina LoCurcio proceeded to co-found Umlaut Films, a top editorial facility located in San Francisco, Calif. focusing its efforts on collaboration for commercial, film and integrated content.
“Matt’s decades of experience in the worlds of traditional and evolving media make him unique to guide Tennis Channel’s availability in every American [home] – and then who knows from there?,” Simon conveyed in a statement. “He’s created successful streaming platforms, programmed them to grow their subscriber base and expanded them into new marketplaces. For years fans have been asking us if there’s a way for them to just buy Tennis Channel, and Matt’s here to make that happen.”
Graham’s role will be based in the company’s Los Angeles, Calif.-area headquarters and focused on launching the new platform next year. Tennis Channel is owned by Sinclair, Inc., which is currently in the midst of bankruptcy hearings related to the Ch. 11 status of Diamond Sports Group, its subsidiary that is responsible for operating Bally Sports-branded regional sports networks around the United States.
