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Warm & Fuzzy is a Tennis Channel series that humanizes tennis players, brings fans closer to the players they love, and shows that Tennis Channel is the entertainment leader of the game. Season One launched in 2022 during Mental Health Awareness Month, it features open discussions with stars like Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff. Hosted by comedian and former tennis pro Michael Kosta (The Daily Show), the humorous and accessible series lets players kick back and show fans what they're like off the court. And after such a successful Season One, the show returned last year for Season Two, with some extra warm and fuzzy upgrades.
The brief for 'Warm & Fuzzy' was to bring the human side of tennis to life. Professional tennis players have enough to deal with. Constant travel, immense pressure on the court and, critically, dealing with reporters searching for any angle.
Tennis Channel saw the writing on the wall and decided it was time to give pros a place to get away from it all—an oasis of fun and a way for fans to engage in a unique way.
The main challenge was to differentiate it from typical tennis press conferences, which can often feel formal and repetitive. We wanted to create a format that not only engaged fans but also allowed players to relax and showcase their personalities in a fun, informal setting.
For season two, we introduced a new studio design, a resident harpist for a laid-back atmosphere, and playful elements like games and a magic tennis ball. These changes were aimed at deepening fan connection with players and solidifying Tennis Channel’s position as a leader in tennis entertainment.
Building on a successful season one, Warm & Fuzzy introduced impressive changes in season two, including a new studio design, a resident harpist, and a magic tennis ball—all aimed at helping players unwind from the rigors of the pro tour.
The initial drop of ten episodes featured athletes like Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and Andrey Rublev, followed by 40 additional episodes released over the next three months. The entire series remains available on demand via Tennis Channel's website, app, and YouTube, and was also broadcast during the US Open.
The second season surpassed the first season’s performance after just 10 episodes and attracted even more fans with over 2 million views to date. More importantly, it significantly increased channel engagement and app subscriptions, bringing fans closer to the world of tennis. The series received enthusiastic feedback, with fans begging for 'more episodes,' and garnered earned media coverage from outlets like Tennis World.
Though Warm & Fuzzy is entertainment, the message is that elite athletes are multidimensional and interesting human beings. The initial season launched during Mental Health Awareness Month and with pros like Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff openly discussing mental health. Especially as an individual sport, the intense pressure tennis players face is often also done alone. Warm & Fuzzy not only was a fun and uplifting series, it created a sense of community during one of the toughest competitions of the year.
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