Taking tennis to the world could soon prove a real earner for Auckland tennis and a local computer service company.
Following a successful venture into live webcasting at last year's Heineken Open and ASB Classic, the technology has been improved this year in the hope of attracting aneven wider worldwide audience.
With the help of a grant from Industry New Zealand, Auckland Tennis and Zombie Linux are sending pictures for worldwide internet access.
"Last year we had over 850,000 hits with 77 per cent offshore," said Auckland Tennis chief executive Graham Pearce. "Initially we have provided pictures only from one static courtside camera. But, as the system is developed we intend to add a second camera, live scoring and audio.
"The system is in infancy but already we know there is real interest in it."
Last year the service was provided free but this time the Open is again being relayed through the ATP website at a cost of $US14.95 ($28) for the event.
Organisers have been encouraged by the interest the service has attracted.
With television coverage often restricted to just the last days of tournaments there is little or no early live coverage available.
Through the Auckland-devised package - and Auckland Tennis plan to offer it to other tournaments around the world - players' families and fans can trace progress.
"Every player has an extended family who want to watch," said Pearce. "Last season we had around a steady 8000 viewers, which leapt to 30,000 when Anna Kournikova was on court.
"The service is particularly popular in Europe where many have high speed internet access either through computers or laptops.
"As well as showing tennis from the ASB Bank Tennis Centre, local tennis-related companies have the opportunity to take their products and services to a tennis-watching audience," said Pearce. "Astrograss, siliconCOACH [a video coaching programme] and Pacific Natural Gut String [a string company] are already part of the programme."
Approached last year by Zombie Linux, Auckland Tennis agreed to trial the system. While not perfect, it is an innovative step and one which players, coaches and tennis supporters have keenly watched. Those involved are adamant it will only get better.
