Creative Director at Tennis Channel (LA)
Tennis has never felt more culturally alive than it does right now. Major luxury brands are investing again in on-court fashion. The Hollywood power set is entering the tournament business. Attendance at the majors is growing, especially among younger, style-conscious fans.
On the court, a generational handoff is underway. With the Big Three era fading, a new crop of stars—including a strong group of Americans—is redefining what the sport looks and feels like at the top level. The stories are newer. The dynamics are shifting. And the cultural interest is broader than it has been in years.
The content landscape is evolving alongside it. Social and audio formats are expanding the stories around the game. Tennis Channel is well positioned to lead at this moment. With platforms that span linear, streaming, editorial, and social, it has the tools to shape how the next chapter of tennis gets seen, heard, and understood.
This is not just a media opportunity—it’s a cultural design challenge.
The right creative leader will help define what tennis looks, sounds, and feels like in this new era.
Tennis Channel and its growing portfolio of products—including its U.S. and international streaming apps, FAST channels, Tennis.com, and Pickleballtv—are seeking a Creative Director to unify, evolve, and operationalize the company’s creative capabilities across platforms.
In April 2025, Sinclair tapped Jeff Blackburn—an executive behemoth—to lead Tennis Channel as Chairman and CEO. Blackburn spent over two decades helping turn Amazon into a juggernaut, working side-by-side with Jeff Bezos, taking the company public, and building Prime Video, Amazon Studios, and Amazon Music from scratch. Before stepping down in 2022, he ran Amazon’s global entertainment business, overseeing billions in revenue and reshaping how the world consumes content.
This is a rare chance to work under one of the most influential operators in modern media. You’ll help build what’s next —with the backing, clarity, and urgency to do it right.
Position Overview:
This is a foundational creative leadership role at the intersection of sport, storytelling, and modern media infrastructure. The Creative Director will be responsible for building and leading a centralized Creative Services department that brings visual excellence, scalable systems, and high-impact storytelling to every touchpoint of the business.
This is not a traditional creative director role. Tennis Channel is seeking a structurally minded creative leader who thinks like an executive producer—someone fluent in the current language of visual culture and equally skilled in operational strategy, workflow optimization, and cross-functional team management.
There’s no playbook here. You will build the machine, shape the play, and elevate the brand.
The position is based in Santa Monica and requires an in-office presence to foster collaboration and hands-on leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the Vision
Build and lead a centralized Creative Services department that unifies graphic design and motion graphics
Set and uphold standards for visual cohesion, executional quality, and cross-platform consistency
Centralize Creative Operations
Develop streamlined workflows and asset management systems to support creative needs across broadcast, streaming, FAST, social, digital, and product environments
Leverage tooling and process design to ensure speed, scale, and quality across a high-output ecosystem
Re-Org for Efficiency
Assess and restructure the team to reduce redundancies, eliminate bottlenecks, and optimize delivery pipelines
Create scalable systems that raise the floor of execution without sacrificing creativity
Cross-Department Collaboration
Serve as the creative liaison across marketing, production, editorial, product, and DTC teams
Drive alignment, prioritization, and shared creative standards across the org
Oversee High-Volume Production
Manage the intake, prioritization, and delivery of a broad range of creative assets (platform graphics, broadcast packages, campaign materials, etc.)
Balance operational clarity with premium creative output and brand integrity
Champion Modernization and Thought Leadership
Bring a modern visual POV that reflects the current moment in sports and culture
Explore and integrate emerging tools—including AI workflows—where they can support creative excellence
Qualifications
15+ years of creative leadership experience in fast-paced brand, media, sports, or entertainment environments
Demonstrated success leading high-performing creative services teams across multiple channels.
Expertise in graphic design, motion design, branding, and cross-platform asset development
Proficiency in creative operations, workflow design, resource planning, and asset management systems
A collaborative, coaching-first leadership style that motivates teams and unlocks potential.
Curiosity about emerging toolsets (including AI) and how they can enhance creative work without compromising taste
This role is based in Santa Moica, CA and requires an in-office presence to foster collaboration and hands-on leadership.