He spent 24 years at Amazon, and is the prime architect (no pun intended) of the digital streaming expansion into on-demand entertainment and live sports, building Prime Video, Amazon Studios, Amazon Music and Amazon’s advertising and marketplace divisions.
Now, he’s taking over The Tennis Channel for Sinclair Inc.
Assuming the role of Chairman/CEO of the MVPD-distributed offering is Jeff Blackburn. In this role, the Dartmouth alum and Stanford MBA will lead the cable and satellite network’s strategic growth as well as its expansion across digital, streaming and global platforms.
Most recently, Blackburn served as Senior Vice President of Global Media and Entertainment at Amazon, overseeing the company’s entire media portfolio.
Blackburn fills a post left vacant by the dismissal in September 2024 of Ken Solomon, reportedly over his advisory and board member role at Main Street Media, owned by “Dr. Phil” McGraw, The Wall Street Journal reported.
“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 Sinclair President/CEO Chris Ripley. “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.”
During his tenure at Amazon, Blackburn led the launch of Thursday Night Football on Prime. He also had a hand in bringing scripted series including “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Fleabag” to light. Blackburn also played a pivotal role in Amazon’s acquisition and full integration of MGM, which created Amazon MGM Studios.
“Tennis Channel is a sports treasure,” said Blackburn, who began his career as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank, where he oversaw Amazon’s 1997 initial public offering of stock. “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.”
Blackburn currently sits on the Board of Directors of Roku Inc., DoorDash Inc., and UTR Sports.
