BBC Retains Wimbledon Live Coverage
The BBC has extended its long running partnership with the Wimbledon championships until 2020.
The three year deal, already the longest running partnership in sports broadcasting history having started in 1927, will keep the Grand Slam on free-to-air television in the UK following rumours of a potential move to pay TV.
Live and delayed coverage of the championships will continue to be provided across BBC One, BBC Two, the BBC Red Button and the BBC Sport website, with live radio coverage on Radio 5 live.
All England Club chief executive Richard Lewis commented: “Our long partnership with the BBC has brought the excitement and drama of the championships to viewers and listeners for over 80 years and we are delighted to be extending our successful association for a further three years until 2020.
“The BBC consistently delivers large national audiences for Wimbledon and they deliver those audiences with high-quality production values, live across multiple platforms and always with a strong narrative.
“Importantly, as host broadcaster for the championships, the BBC also ensures that we can provide a comprehensive and premium service to our global media partners.”
The new deal comes a week after the national governing bodies of ten of Britain’s most popular sports made a collective pledge to ensure their major events are available on free-to-air television.
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