What has been rumored for months was confirmed Tuesday. ESPN outbid NBC for the rights to broadcast all of Wimbledon, including both the men’s and women’s finals. The deal is for 12 years, and perhaps most significant, all of the matches carried will be shown live on one of ESPN’s platforms.
“We are delighted to be extending our partnership with ESPN in a move which will consolidate our U.S. media rights under the auspices of a single partner,” said Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. “This new agreement will bring increased live coverage and ensure that the huge international audience for Wimbledon can now enjoy all the drama and color of the fortnight.”
The move ends a 43-year relationship between the All England Club and NBC and continues a trend of moving marquee events from broadcast television to cable.
ESPN beat out not only NBC but Fox to get the broadcast and multimedia rights from the All England Club.
ESPN2 has broadcast Wimbledon’s early rounds since 2003, and ESPN prides itself on airing more live tennis coverage than any other network. Since 2009, ESPN has aired all four Grand Slam events, something no other U.S. network has done. ESPN also has presented the Australian Open since 1984, the French Open since 2002 (plus 1986-1993) and the U.S. Open since 2009.
NBC often ran matches on tape delay so that it could air them in the afternoon, a complaint that often was leveled against the network. ESPN will air all its matches live and will replay them later in the day as well.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
