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Tennis fans of a certain age may remember asking themselves the question: Do I pay the extra cost, on top of my existing cable bill, for a sports package that includes Tennis Channel? I certainly do, and it wasn’t an easy decision, fresh out of college and not exactly swimming in disposable income. But in the early-to-mid aughts, watching professional tennis beyond the Grand Slams and a smattering of second-tier tournaments was nearly impossible without the coverage Tennis Channel provided.

In the 15-20 years since, Tennis Channel has become far more accessible in a variety of ways. The linear network is available on nearly every standard cable tier. Tennis Channel Plus offers a streaming complement that gives fans practically limitless access to the pro game. Both are available on an app for viewing wherever you have an internet connection. It’s not too much, certainly for ardent fans of the sport. But the rapid expansion of tennis content made me wonder if there was room for anything else; anything new and innovative.

Enter T2, which looks and feels different than Tennis Channel (because it was designed to be), and is accessed in a different way (on Samsung TV Plus, and on Samsung smart TV’s, mobile phones and tablets). But the biggest distinction of all may be the most important: It’s completely free.

T2 is Tennis Channel’s first free ad-supported TV (FAST) offering in the United States. If you own a Samsung device that carries Samsung TV Plus, you get T2 at no cost.

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T2 will be available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus and is available on Samsung smart TV’s, mobile phones and tablets.

T2 will be available exclusively on Samsung TV Plus and is available on Samsung smart TV’s, mobile phones and tablets. 

And like the distinction between Tennis Channel’s suite of networks and T2, there’s a further distinction between T2 and the rest of Samsung TV Plus’ channels: It's the very first TV channel on Samsung TV Plus to offer year-round live sports competition.

“The demand for top-level sports programming has grown even stronger as media platforms continue to evolve, and we couldn’t be happier to usher in T2, our new FAST standard, with Samsung TV Plus,” said Ken Solomon, president, Tennis Channel. “There are more great matches than we can fit on Tennis Channel, making T2 and Samsung TV Plus’ innovative platform the perfect complement.”

In a digital age where live sports are currency, this is a unique offering, even more so given that T2 will different matches than Tennis Channel.

“We are excited to partner with Sinclair and welcome T2, the destination to watch live marquee tennis matches from around the world, exclusively on Samsung TV Plus,” said Takashi Nakano, senior director of content acquisitions and business development for Samsung TV Plus. “Adding live sports to our lineup gives our viewers even more choice and that’s what Samsung TV Plus is all about.”

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T2 features the best live ATP and WTA matches not being shown on Tennis Channel. It will also feature original programming, documentaries and more when there is not live tennis or same day replays being shown.

T2 features the best live ATP and WTA matches not being shown on Tennis Channel. It will also feature original programming, documentaries and more when there is not live tennis or same day replays being shown.

In one afternoon of T2 viewing, I caught a documentary on Alice Marble, a video version of a TENNIS.com podcast, and a replay of Novak Djokovic’s five-set French Open final win over Stefanos Tsitsipas. Interspersed were short features on tennis in Alaska, Jamie Murray chatting with Heather Watson over Zoom, and Paula Badosa on the set of Warm & Fuzzy.

They were six very different pieces of tennis content, but in the context of T2’s identity, it all made sense. The new channel is distinct from Tennis Channel’s linear television network, online platforms and print magazine in its content, tone, look and feel.

And did I mention it’s free?

View T2 on channel 1154 on Samsung TV Plus.