ESPN Scores Wimbledon Rights in 12-Year Deal

BRISTOL: Beginning in 2012, exclusive U.S. coverage of Wimbledon will move from NBC to ESPN, which today announced a 12-year deal for multiplatform rights to the tennis championship.

The deal brings to an end NBC’s four-decades-long partnership for Wimbledon rights. A statement from the broadcaster, which recently locked up a new deal to remain the U.S. broadcast home of the Olympic Games through 2020, said in a statement: "While we would have liked to have continued our relationship, we were simply outbid."

As of 2012, ESPN is promising expanded coverage of the Round of 16 and live telecasts of all quarterfinals. ESPN will televise the semifinals and finals. ESPN on ABC will broadcast a three-hour highlights show on the “middle Sunday” of the tournament, and will re-air the finals on a same-day basis at 3 p.m. ET. In addition, all of ESPN’s existing coverage on television, broadband, mobile, and other rights in the U.S., Latin America and Canada will continue through 2021.

Since 2003, ESPN networks have aired approximately 100 hours of Wimbledon coverage annually. Through 2023, the television schedule will increase to more than 140 hours, including full live national coverage of the semifinals and finals.

Ian Ritchie, chief executive of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, said the move to ESPN "will consolidate our U.S. media rights under the auspices of a single partner. This new agreement will bring increased live coverage of The Championships and ensure that the huge international audience for Wimbledon can now enjoy all the drama and color of the Fortnight through a sustained narrative delivered with clarity, continuity and consistency across a wide range of platforms.”

George Bodenheimer, the president of ESPN and ABC Sports, added, "We are proud to have been a partner of The All England Club the past nine years and are thrilled to be given continuing responsibility for honoring Wimbledon’s rich tradition. Over the next 12 years, we’ll work closely together to move coverage of this great event forward with live coverage on television and using all the latest technologies and screens."