Steve Bellamy
Steve Bellamy | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Sports Entertainment |
| Employer | Kodak |
| Known for | |
| Title | President of Motion Picture and Entertainment |
| Board member of | Chairman, Action Sport Networks |
Steve Bellamy is an entrepreneur in sports and entertainment known for the founding of niche cable television networks, including the Tennis Channel, The Surf Channel, The Skate Channel and The Ski Channel. He is also a writer/director/producer of six feature films, including Winter and The Story. He was also one of the producers of the movie The Game Changers on Netflix. He is the inventor of LiveBall and the founder of the Tennis Channel Open. He was the President of Motion Picture and Entertainment at Kodak in 2015.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Bellamy attended Indiana University from 1983 to 1986 where he graduated with a business degree. He was the commencement speaker at that school in 2008[2] and won the university's Distinguished Entrepreneur Award in 2005.[3]
Career
[edit]Bellamy founded Atonal Tennis, Inc. in 1985 which owned and operated the Palisades Tennis Center, Cheviot Hills Tennis, Santa Monica Tennis Center, Westwood Tennis Center and Westchester Tennis Center.[3] While running those tennis centers, Bellamy invented LiveBall which is played in tennis centers around the world.[4]
Sports Channels
[edit]About 1997, Bellamy had the idea of cable channel for skiing and started work on the concept. He switched to working on a tennis channel concept given the broader audience for tennis.[5] In 2001, The Tennis Channel (TTC) was founded by Steve Bellamy. The channel was launched in Spring 2003.[6] Bellamy had planned to use the Tennis Channel Open, a Tennis Channel acquisition, as the core event as a part of a larger "Tennispalooza".[7] In 2005, Bellamy left to start The Ski Channel.[8]
In 2006, Bellamy became chief executive officer of Action Sport Networks. In April 2007, Bellamy announced the formation of The Ski Channel, which would focus on mountain-oriented sports, activities, and lifestyle.[7] The channel, launched via his company Atonal Sports and Entertainment, signed a long-term agreement with Time Warner Cable.[9]
During the 2012 US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, Bellamy announced that he was launching the Surf Channel, devoted to beach, water and board sports, lifestyle and travel, in mid-September.[10][11]
In 2015, he was made chairman of Action Sport Networks. Bellamy was named Kodak President of Motion Picture and Entertainment in October 2015.[12]
Atonal Sports and Entertainment
[edit]Atonal Sports and Entertainment owned and operated several tennis centers, a film company, Atonal Films and TV, and Palisades Sound Recording Studio. Atonal Films produced documentaries. Sports facilities owned by Atonal included the Palisades Tennis Center, Westwood Tennis Center, Cheviot Hills Tennis Center, Santa Monica Tennis Center and the LA Golf Academy.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ Bryant, Jacob (2015-10-07). "Kodak Names Steve Bellamy President of Motion Picture and Entertainment". Variety. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ "Successful sports and entertainment entrepreneur to address Kelley School of Business MBA graduates: IU News Room: Indiana University". newsinfo.iu.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ a b "Steven J. Bellamy: University Honors and Awards: Indiana University". University Honors & Awards. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ^ Murphy, Jen (25 April 2016). "Live Ball: Tennis Without the Rules". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Bradstreet, Kailee (September 5, 2012). "Behind The Surf Channel: Founder Steve Bellamy". Transworld Business. The Enthusiast Network. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ Cantrell, Cynthia (July 2004). "The Medium is the Message". Tennis Industry. USRSA. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
- ^ a b Schneider, Michael (April 29, 2007). "Ski channel snowballing". Variety. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
- ^ "Executive Profile: Steve Bellamy". Bloomberg Business. Bloomberg. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (2007-04-30). "'08 liftoff for Ski Channel". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (2012-08-03). "Tennis and Ski Channel Founder Steve Bellamy Launching Surf-Themed Network (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ Kenneally, Tim (August 3, 2012). "Tennis/Ski Channel Founder Now Launches a Surf Channel". The Wrap. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ Lafayette, Jon (October 7, 2015). "Bellamy Named President of Kodak Entertainment Arm". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ "Steve Bellamy, Entrepreneur and Founder of The Tennis Channel, to Launch The Ski Channel, a VOD and Multimedia Network for Year-Round Mountain Activities". Broadcasting & Cable. April 30, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2020.