THIS year’s Wimbledon is set for a huge change as the BBC will not be the only broadcaster airing the finals!
Tennis lovers have been treated to some incredible finals over the years, such as Andy Murray’s 2013 win against Novak Djokovic to end Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s Wimbledon champion.
Or when Djokovic overcame Roger Federer in 2019 after saving two championship points, which turned out to be the longest All-English Lawn Club final ever, as it lasted four hours and 57 minutes.
Djokovic was also involved in the 2024 showpiece match, but it ended much quicker as Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz beat the super Serbian in straight sets.
The women’s finals cannot be discredited either, especially Venus Williams’ iconic 4–6, 7–6(4), 9–7 victory against Lindsay Davenport in 2005, where the American narrowly avoided a straight-sets defeat.
And the one thing that all these finals had in common was that it was only aired on the BBC.
However, that all changes this year.
Why are the Wimbledon finals not only being shown on BBC?
In May 2024, a BBC rival extended its broadcast deal with the All England club, which included the men’s and women’s singles finals.
As part of the deal, which started in 2016, the broadcaster was also handed a daily 90-minute package of tennis highlights from SW19.
But the rival went off air in February this year after being bought out by another broadcasting company.
As a result, this new broadcasting company have inherited that set of TV rights and will show highlights as well as the finals.
The Beeb will remain Wimbledon’s main domestic broadcaster – continuing its 88 years of coverage.
What other channel will the Wimbledon finals be on?
This year’s Wimbledon finals will also be broadcast on TNT Sports.
The arrangements BBC and TNT have are both with the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC).
Ofcom Listed Events regulations allow for “secondary broadcasters” at major sporting tournaments.
That’s the status TNT Sports is taking with the AELTC at Wimbledon.
The women’s singles final will take place on Saturday, July 12, while the men’s singles final gets underway on Sunday, July 13.
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