Former Amazon Entertainment Boss Jeff Blackburn Named CEO of Tennis Channel

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. Prior to his exit, Blackburn served as senior vice president of global media and entertainment at Amazon.

“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,” said Chris Ripley, President and CEO of Sinclair Inc. “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,” said Blackburn. “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.”

More to come…