Former Amazon entertainment chief Jeff Blackburn has been tapped as chairman and CEO of the Sinclair-owned Tennis Channel.
During his more than 20-year tenure at Amazon, Blackburn oversaw the company’s expansion into streaming and sports, including brands Prime Video, Amazon Studios, Amazon Music and Amazon’s advertising and marketplace divisions. Before heading into the media and entertainment sector at Amazon — where he oversaw properties including “Thursday Night Football,” “Transparent,” “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Fleabag” and “The Boys” — Blackburn worked in operations, retail and corporate and business development. Prior to his exit from the e-commerce giant in 2021, Blackburn served as senior vice president of global media and entertainment.
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“Jeff’s appointment marks a pivotal step in our strategy to accelerate Tennis Channel’s growth and unlock long-term value across Sinclair’s portfolio,” Sinclair CEO and president Chris Ripley said. “With a track record of driving innovation and scaling multibillion-dollar media businesses, Jeff brings the strategic vision and operational expertise to expand our digital footprint, deepen audience engagement, and capitalize on global sports and streaming trends. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow Tennis Channel’s distribution and expand its direct-to-consumer offering, further establishing Tennis Channel as a global, always-on destination for fans across every screen and platform.”
“Tennis Channel is a sports treasure,” Blackburn said. “It’s beloved by fans of the game, allowing for large growth opportunities ahead in streaming as well as new initiatives like pickleball. Since childhood I’ve been intensely passionate about tennis, so I’m thrilled to take on the role and join this outstanding team.”
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