The BBC are in talks with the All England Club over the future of Wimbledon’s broadcasting rights, with organisers wanting changes to coverage after the current £60m-a-year deal expires in 2027
All England Club chiefs are keen to maintain Wimbledon’s long-standing broadcasting partnership with the BBC. That is despite calls for significant changes to the coverage of the iconic tennis tournament.
The Times reports that discussions have already begun regarding the next broadcast deal, set to take effect after the 2027 Championships. While there is little appetite to sever ties between Wimbledon and the BBC, organisers believe the current coverage has become stale and outdated compared to competitors across the sport.
As such, the BBC will need to impress the directors of the All England Club. The corporation must make plans for rejuvenating the coverage of the prestigious grass-court Grand Slam.
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TNT Sports, which holds the rights for the Australian and French Open, is unlikely to compete against the BBC for Wimbledon’s rights. However, Sky Sports, boasting a dedicated tennis channel and holding the rights for the US Open until 2029, could emerge as a potential competitor.
An industry insider criticised the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage, stating: “John McEnroe is great – although he can split opinion – but some of the other presenters and pundits at Wimbledon seem out of touch and not really up to date with a lot of the players. There is obviously a balance to be struck to cater for those who like the traditional aspect of the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage, but it definitely needs to look at what is happening in other tennis coverage.”
The perception of the BBC’s approach to tennis broadcasting within the sport is that it is a touch outdated. A source from Wimbledon told The Times that there is a consensus within the All England Club that the focus should be on ensuring the championship’s broadcast is innovative and features top-notch presenters.
TNT, however, is unlikely to challenge the BBC for the rights to Wimbledon, considering the latter as the tournament’s natural broadcaster. TNT currently holds the rights to air highlights and live broadcasts of the two finals.
The BBC spends approximately £60million annually on its Wimbledon rights. But even if rival bidders propose higher amounts, the All England Club would still favour the BBC.
An insider revealed: “It’s not about the money or necessarily the highest bidder, it is about what is right for Wimbledon, and it is almost impossible for another broadcaster to provide the viewership that the BBC does.”
Wimbledon’s massive reach stems from its free-to-air BBC coverage. The broadcaster’s comprehensive output across BBC One, BBC Two and digital platforms surpasses what rival networks could deliver.
Last year’s tournament smashed records with 69.3million digital video views. The men’s singles final, in which Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz, attracted a peak audience of 8.8 million across television and online platforms.
BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said: “This year’s record-breaking digital figures for Wimbledon are testament to the huge appeal of the sport among audiences and the power of digital innovation to bring both new and existing fans closer to the action than ever before. The way people are following Wimbledon is changing, but that is exciting for us as we look to tell the best stories in different ways.”
Whilst negotiations are ongoing, the BBC is likely to delay finalising any agreement until a new director-general takes the helm. Tim Davie stepped down in November, with the corporation’s board set to appoint his replacement.
The BBC’s relationship with Wimbledon dates back a century. They first broadcast radio commentary in 1924, followed by the launch of television coverage in June 1937.
