OUT! NBC lose Wimbledon coverage contract to ESPN
It’s all change for tennis telly viewers stateside.
After 43 years, American fans of the Wimbledon tennis tournament will now have to turn to ESPN from next year.
ESPN has won the coverage rights in a 12-year deal which will see coverage across ESPN 1 and ESPN 2 along with coverage online. ABC will air highlights and the live finals. The sports broadcaster has already aired some matches in the past, but this will be the first time they have exclusive rights from The All England Club.
It has also been announced that ESPN UK will televise its first live darts programming in the UK, providing coverage of the British Darts Organistion (BDO) 2011 Winmau World Masters, which will be extended to a three-day event for the first time as part of the agreement. Coverage will be presented by former BBC sports personality Ray Stubbs.
Coverage begins on Friday 2nd September.
