Wimbledon will remain on free-to-air television until at least 2033 after the BBC agreed a new broadcast deal with the All England Club.
The future of Wimbledon coverage had been in doubt with the BBC’s existing deal due to expire after next year’s Championships.
The All England Club has already experimented with alternative coverage after signing a deal for the finals of the men’s and women’s singles to also be shown on TNT Sports, while Amazon Prime and Sky Sports have also recently shown live tennis.
But ahead of this year’s Championships, which begin on Monday, the BBC has announced that it has signed a six-year extension to retain Wimbledon coverage across its free-to-air channels, website, iPlayer and radio stations.
The new deal comes as the BBC says it will “usher in a fresh new editorial and creative approach”, with plans already under way to shake up the presenting and commentary team. Andrew Castle, the long-serving tennis commentator, will mark his final Wimbledon this summer after 24 years with the broadcaster, while Jamie Murray, who retired from the professional circuit earlier this year, will be a part of a new-look line-up that will also feature former British No 1 Laura Robson, 1992 Wimbledon champion Andre Agassi and Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard. Coverage will again be spearheaded by Clare Balding and Isa Guha.
Debbie 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.
“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.”
The BBC will celebrate its centenary year in 2027, when it marks 100 years since it first broadcast Wimbledon.
“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,” added Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC director of sport.
“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.”