Long-Term Partnership Continues for Iconic Tennis Tournament
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has announced a new deal with the All England Club, extending its exclusive broadcasting rights for the Wimbledon Championships until 2033. This agreement guarantees that the prestigious Grand Slam event will remain available to UK audiences without charge across the BBC's television, radio, and digital platforms.
Commitment to Evolving Coverage
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, emphasized the significance of Wimbledon to the UK public and the BBC's dedication to evolving its coverage. He stated that the partnership, which is deeply valued, will continue for another decade, focusing on celebrating one of the world's premier sporting events while innovating how it reaches audiences. Plans include leveraging new technology, fresh storytelling, introducing new voices, and employing innovative methods to connect with fans across various media, aiming to bring viewers closer to the Championships than ever before.
A Century of Broadcasting History
The upcoming tournament in 2027 will mark a century since the BBC first broadcast Wimbledon in 1927, highlighting the long-standing relationship between the broadcaster and the All England Club. Under the terms of the new deal, audiences will continue to receive extensive live coverage of the Championships via BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website and app, in addition to BBC Sport's social media channels.
New Editorial Approach and Record Digital Engagement
The 2026 Wimbledon tournament, featuring defending champions Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, will introduce a new editorial and creative strategy from BBC Sport. This approach will incorporate new personalities, deeper narratives, enhanced analysis, and advanced technology across all platforms, all designed to enrich the audience experience. The announcement follows a period of record-breaking digital engagement for Wimbledon on BBC platforms. In 2025, the tournament garnered 69.3 million online requests across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and app, marking the highest digital interaction ever recorded for the Championships. This figure significantly surpassed the 54.3 million requests from 2023 and the 50.1 million from 2024.