World TeamTennis Returns With Marathon Tourney at The Greenbrier in West Virginia CBS, ESPN, and Tennis Channel will carry live coverage of three-week event By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor
Wednesday, July 15, 2020 - 10:28 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
World TeamTennis is the latest pro league to embrace the bubble concept, taking over at The Greenbrier in West Virginia for a three-week season featuring nine teams and a limited number of fans in the stands. With strict health and safety guidelines in place to protect the crew, WTT's broadcast-production team will have produced 66 matches in 19 days from the luxury resort by the time the Final airs on CBS on Aug. 2.
For its return to live tennis coverage, WTT will deploy a studio desk with a single host.
It is a daunting task: we have three matches a day, sometimes four, says WTT Executive Producer Jim Townsend. We have an [onsite] truck environment, and we will be rotating people in and out with two crews a day. We will social-distance as best as we can, and everybody will be wearing masks. We will try to keep it [familiar to viewers], but it will be a lot different from anything we've ever done before.
In addition to CBS's first-ever broadcast of the WTT Final, the entire 66-match season will be televised or live-streamed on various platforms: CBS Sports Network carrying 13 regular-season WTT matches (plus the Semifinals on Aug. 1), ESPN2 airing 10 matches, ESPN+ live-streaming 25, Tennis Channel televising 19 matches, and the CBS Sports app and Facebook Watch live-streaming five matches.
Across every platform, fans can watch every single match, says World TeamTennis CEO Carlos Silva. We're grateful to have everyone, and I think all the broadcast partners are happy to have us as well. They've all been playing a lot of reruns, as we know, over the last couple of months. So I think everyone's excited to have us in their lineups, and it's great to have all 66 matches on.
The Venue: WTT, The Greenbrier Make Health and Safety Top Priority
When the WTT Celebrity All-Star Match concluded on March 1, the league fully expected to return on July 12 with its traditional home-and-away model for the regular season. However, when the coronavirus pandemic rocked the sports world, WTT quickly pivoted and began searching for a central location to host the 2020 season.
The Greenbrier in West Virginia offers a serene setting for the bubble housing the 2020 WTT season.
We quickly came to the realization that flying nine teams around in cities like New York, Philly, Chicago, DC, Vegas, and others was not going to happen, so we started looking at different options, says Silva. After looking at several [venues in] different states, The Greenbrier jumped in with a proposal that was very competitive. In hindsight, I think we probably look smart in choosing West Virginia because it remains very low in [COVID-19 cases] right now.
WTT has rolled out Ross Production Services' RMP6 truck to house its production team. WTT is operating two shifts of crews for all positions - an early shift and a late shift - to produce matches throughout each day. The truck is thoroughly cleaned between shifts, and all personnel are required to wear masks at all time and are assigned their own headset for the entire 19-day effort.
Ross Production Services has rolled out its RMP6 truck for the WTT productions, and PSSI is providing a sat uplink.
All personnel onsite were tested and delivered a negative result in their home city within five days of traveling to The Greenbriar and were required to complete another test on arrival. After testing negative (and being quarantined in their hotel rooms for the 24-hour testing period), they were able to enter The Greenbriar compound. In addition, they have their temperature checked when entering the stadium each day. WTT will also require a mid-season test for all players and staff. CLICK HERE for a detailed look at WTT's safety protocols.
The WTT will be one of the rare U.S. sports events to welcome fans, permitting 500 fans per day to enter the 2,500-capacity stadium at The Greenbriar. All fans must pass a temperature test, wear masks at all times, and maintain social distance throughout the lower bowl.
WTT on-air talent are onsite to call the action at The Greenbrier, but they are socially distanced.
In addition to the main stadium, WTT has set up a backup indoor court to ensure that all 66 matches are completed in case of inclement weather (matches can be moved inside in just 20 minutes). Fans will not be allowed access to the indoor court, but WTT has deployed a full complement of cameras to cover the matches should they move inside.
One challenge has been long fiber and Ethernet runs across a historic property not wired for connectivity, explains Paul Casey, SVP, engineering and technology, WTT. However, keeping to a single venue for the season creates a lot of efficiencies. We set up our equipment twice for the season: an outdoor court setup and another indoors for weather contingency.
On the Court: More Robos, No Camera Operators at Court Level
Court coverage is provided by nine cameras: the main game unit, a tight/follow shot, four robos (two on the court, one in the booth, one for interviews), a reverse shot, one at the host desk, and two Marshall POVs (wide shot and umpire cam). WTT made an effort to deploy minimal crew onsite and converted its low-level cameras to robos (no operators are allowed at court level) with robo operators located in a remote building far from the main compound.
It will look different, as does everything these days, but we're trying as hard as we can not to have it look that different, says Townsend. The [court-level] cameras will essentially be in the [usual] position, just operated remotely.
A limited n
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
World TeamTennis Returns With Marathon Tourney at The Greenbrier in West Virginia CBS, ESPN, and Tennis Channel will carry live coverage of three-week event By Jason Dachman, Chief Editor 
