• Loading stock data...
Friday, April 4, 2025
    More
    Nominations Are Open for Front Office Sports Honors! Submit Now
    Media

    Pickleball Picks Up Two New TV Deals From CBS and ESPN

    • APP announces deals for 20 hours of combined coverage this year.
    • Pickleball is America’s fastest-growing sport.
    By
    Jan 23, 2023 | 12:56 pm
    UPDATED Apr 15, 2024 | 04:42 pm
    Andy Abeyta/ USA TODAY NETWORK

    America’s fastest-growing sport has upped its television presence. 

    The Association of Pickleball Professionals announced TV deals with CBS and ESPN for the APP Tour on Monday.

    Terms were not disclosed, but APP stated the twin deals guarantee a combined 20 hours of TV coverage for its tour events this year across CBS Sports Network and ESPN2. The deals include:

    • Twelve hours of live matches and highlight-driven programs on CBS Sports Network.
    • Eight hours of event recap telecasts on the ESPN2 cable network.
    • Over 200 hours of live streaming coverage on ESPN+ and APP TV.

    A Growth Spurt

    In 2022, Pickleball ranked as the country’s fastest-growing sport for the second year in a row. The sport saw more than 36.5 million people in the U.S. play between August 2021 and August 2022.

    There are 16 APP Tour events on the schedule for this year. Founded in 2019, the tour kicked off its 2023 season in Punta Gorda, Florida. The APP Daytona Beach Open is next in Holly Hill, Florida, from Feb. 8-12.

    Linkedin
    Whatsapp
    Copy Link
    Link Copied
    Link Copied

    What to Read
    by

    Men’s Final Four: Big Programs, Big Money, and No Cinderellas
    The men’s and women’s Final Fours take place this weekend.
    by

    Why Sports Leagues Are Betting Big on Streaming’s Reach
    The NFL is going all-in on streaming for its Christmas Day games.
    Mar 31, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) makes a heart symbol to the crowd after a Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the USC Trojans at Spokane Arena.
    by

    Women’s Hoops Keeps Climbing: Clark’s Boom to Bueckers’s Moment
    This year’s tournament has averaged 967,000 viewers.
    hard-knocks-2020
    by

    NFL Expands ‘Hard Knocks’ Pool of Teams: Who’s Eligible for 2025?
    The NFL is relaxing rules surrounding its reality TV show.

    Featured Today

    Mar 1, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators guard Walter Clayton Jr. (1) and center Olivier Rioux (32) and guard Alijah Martin (15) and forward Thomas Haugh (10) huddle after the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center
    by

    How Florida Built a Final Four Roster With ‘Under-Recruited’ Players
    “We’ve never gotten a single player because we’re the highest bidder.”
    Dec 27, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) skates during warm ups before their game against the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center at San Jose
    April 3, 2025

    Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks Rookies Have Brought Good Vibes to a..
    The rookie’s arrival has boosted spirits incongruously high inside the flagging franchise.
    Mar 26, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
    April 1, 2025

    The Creator Behind the LeBron ‘Glazing’ Trend Sweeping TikTok
    FOS spoke to TikTok user OkaySpade who made the original song.
    Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; McNeese State Cowboys manager Amir Khan before a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Amica Mutual Pavilion
    April 1, 2025

    Inside the 24-Hour NIL March Madness Deals
    Some of the most viral partnerships come together overnight.

    More in Media
    NWSL
    by

    NWSL Could Make Tens of Millions Selling New TV Games
    Almost 200 games are up for grabs over the next two years.
    April 1, 2025

    March Madness Ratings Dip After Record Start: Will Final Four Deliver?
    Viewership had been at a record pace through the opening rounds.
    Feb 2, 2025; Pebble Beach, California, USA; Rory McIlroy (right) is interviewed by CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz (left) on the 18th hole during the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
    April 2, 2025

    Final Four Snags Jim Nantz’s Masters Plan Even After Retirement
    Nantz’s final NCAA tournament on the call for CBS was in 2023.
    Sponsored

    How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture
    As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
    April 1, 2025

    Yankees RSN, Comcast Reach Deal After FCC Pressure
    The deal keeps the regional sports network on an expanded basic tier.
    Oct 20, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; General view of a television camera operator during the game between the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.
    March 31, 2025

    Sources: NFL ‘Virtual Lock’ to Opt Out of Media-Rights Deals
    Data continues to support an early opt-out of the league’s rights.
    March 31, 2025

    Former ESPN Reporter Zach Lowe Rejoins Bill Simmons at The Ringer
    Lowe worked with Ringer co-founder Bill Simmons at Grantland.
    March 31, 2025

    Yankees RSN and Comcast Clash Intensifies As Deadline for Deal Nears
    The invective escalates as a contract deadline approaches Monday night.