Showpiece tennis grand slam will continue to be free-to-air

Wimbledon Carlos Alcaraz tennis Getty Images

The BBC has secured the rights to Wimbledon until the end of 2033.

This means the tennis grand slam will continue to be free to watch for UK viewers, with coverage to be across BBC TV, iPlayer, Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, as well as across BBC Sport’s extensive social channels.

The broadcaster promises that from this year tennis fans will see, “a fresh new editorial and creative approach,” including, “new voices and personalities, deeper storytelling, enhanced analysis, and technology.” They have already revealed an expanded punditry lineup as well as a data-powered interactive experience. 

Wimbledon has been shown by the BBC since 1927 and continues to be a popular broadcast, with 69.3 million online requests across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app last year - the highest it has ever recorded. 

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, said: “Wimbledon holds a truly special place in the hearts of audiences across the UK and this new agreement means we can continue our longstanding and deeply valued partnership with the All England Club well into the next decade. This is about celebrating one of the world’s greatest sporting events while continuing to evolve how we bring it to audiences. With new technology, fresh storytelling, new voices and innovative ways to connect with fans across television, radio, online and social media, we are excited to build the future of Wimbledon coverage together and bring audiences even closer to The Championships than ever before.”

Deborah Jevans CBE, chair of the All England Club, said: “We are delighted to extend our historic partnership with the BBC through to 2033. For nearly a century, we have worked together to bring the magic of Wimbledon to generations of fans in the UK. This agreement reflects our absolute commitment to ensuring Wimbledon remains freely available to the widest possible audience across the nation, enabled by the breadth and reach of the BBC’s platforms, and their clear and continued ambition to enhance the audience experience. We are looking forward to working with the BBC as together we continue to evolve our coverage of The Championships.”