Brett Haber signs extension with Tennis Channel – Awful Announcing
One of Tennis Channel’s most prominent faces will continue to be seen there for years to come. The Sinclair-owned network announced Monday that they’ve signed host and commentator Brett Haber to a five-year contract extension, which will run through 2028.
Haber first appeared on Tennis Channel in 2004, one year after that network’s official launch. He has become one of their central play-by-play voices and studio hosts in the years since. He’s done a lot of other sports media work over the years, including working for ESPN in the 1990s (including as a SportsCenter host) and serving as sports director of Washington, D.C. stations WCBS and WUSA. He’s received 17 Emmy Awards over the years.
But Haber’s tennis coverage has been particularly notable. He received the ATP’s Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award in 1996, and has been a key part of Tennis Channel’s event coverage over the past two decades, working there full-time since 2011. That’s seen him play a key role in their coverage of the four majors and other big events such as the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open. He also worked on NBC’s Olympic tennis broadcasts in 2012 and 2016, and he’s served as an ambassador for the International Tennis Hall of Fame (and the master of ceremonies for its enshrinement weekend, carried live on Tennis Channel) since 2014.
Now, Haber will continue his work on Tennis Channel, as well as their accompanying free advertising-supported streaming television network T2 and their over-the-top Tennis Channel Plus service. Here are quotes from him and Tennis Channel’s Bob Whyley from a release on this extension:
“I’m so proud of how we’ve grown Tennis Channel to become this country’s year-round home of this sport,” said Haber. “There’s never been a better time to be a tennis fan, with almost everything in the pro game available daily on Tennis Channel, our free channel T2 or Tennis Channel Plus. This is an exciting moment for longtime fans and those new to our sport, and I’m thrilled to continue as part of the team.”
…“Brett is a consummate professional and his talent, intense preparation and dedication help tennis fans appreciate the game year-round like never before,” said Bob Whyley, senior vice president, content production, and executive producer. “His sense of humor, tireless energy and great rapport with the rest of our on-air talent team shine through in every broadcast.”
It’s significant to see Haber staying on with Tennis Channel. And he looks set to do so for quite some time.
[Image from Tennis Channel on YouTube]