BBC retains Wimbledon rights until 2033

The deal means that the tennis Championships will remain on free to air television for at least the next seven years.

It extends one of the longest partnerships in British broadcasting and sport. The BBC first broadcast Wimbledon in 1927.

Under the new deal, live coverage of The Championships will be available across BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website and app, as well as across BBC Sport’s social channels.

The Wimbledon men’s and women’s finals are Group A Listed Events, which means they must be shown on terrestrial, free to air TV. However, the rest of the tournament is Group B, which means it could be all shown on subscription-based TV or streaming platforms if highlights were shown on free to air.

The All England Club has taken tentative steps towards embracing pay television in the UK in recent years and has sold secondary rights to the men’s and women’s finals to TNT Sports.

The BBC is refreshing its Wimbledon coverage this year, with the long-serving commentator Andrew Castle stepping down next month after 24 years. Jamie Murray, who retired this year from playing, will form part of a new-look lineup that will include the former British No 1 Laura Robson, the 1992 men’s Wimbledon champion, Andre Agassi, and the women’s Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard. Coverage this year will again be headed by Clare Balding and Isa Guha.

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.”

Deborah Jevans, 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.”