**Wimbledon to Air on New Channel for First Time in Almost a Decade**
Wimbledon, one of the most celebrated sporting fixtures in the British summer calendar, is set for a broadcasting shake-up in 2025. While the BBC will retain its well-established role as the main broadcaster for the All England Club tennis event, a fresh face will be joining the British coverage of the iconic tournament, marking a significant change after nearly ten years of consistency on UK screens.
The BBC’s association with the championship reaches back to 1937, making it among the longest-running partnerships in UK sports broadcasting history. This tradition will remain intact due to Ofcom’s classification of Wimbledon as a ‘Category A’ listed event. This designation mandates that live matches must be made accessible to the public on free-to-air TV, thus safeguarding nationwide access.
Despite these long-standing arrangements, the broadcasting landscape this year is set to look somewhat different. Ofcom, the UK’s communication regulator, permits the involvement of ‘secondary broadcasters’ for category A events, paving the way for additional coverage and broader audience engagement. This summer, TNT Sports, having rebranded from its former incarnation as BT Sport, will step into the frame with a new offering.
TNT Sports have secured the rights to air comprehensive highlights throughout the two-week event, which commences on Monday, 30 June and concludes on Sunday, 13 July 2025. TNT Sports’ new arrangement follows the dissolution of the Eurosport brand in the UK, as both channels fall under the Warner Bros Discovery corporate umbrella. TNT Sports will take over the five-year highlights package previously held by Eurosport, whose own coverage had been a staple for Wimbledon fans since 2016.
For viewers, this means the familiar daily 90-minute highlights programme—recapping the excitement and drama of the day’s play—will now fall under the TNT Sports banner. Additionally, for the first time, TNT Sports will also provide live broadcasts of the men’s and women’s singles finals, promising extra layers of analysis and presentation.
Despite these developments, the BBC’s hold on Wimbledon remains secure, with the rights deal reportedly costing the corporation approximately £60 million per year and due to continue through to 2027. Fans will still be able to watch live action and highlights across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, as well as listen via BBC radio or follow coverage online.
TNT Sports’ involvement further expands their already impressive tennis portfolio, which includes domestic broadcast rights to both the Australian Open and the French Open. The US Open, meanwhile, continues to be shown exclusively on Sky Sports, marking an increasingly diverse approach to tennis coverage across the four Grand Slam tournaments in the UK.
Public figures within the sport have weighed in on these changes. Prominent broadcaster and former British tennis professional Andrew Castle recently commented on the enduring value of free-to-air coverage for national events like Wimbledon. Speaking to Betway, Castle expressed doubt that the BBC would ever relinquish its principal broadcaster role, stating: “In terms of a domestic audience in the UK, I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t on the BBC and free to air.” He emphasised the importance of keeping such a landmark event widely accessible, describing Wimbledon as “an institution and an event, not just a tennis tournament.”
Castle also praised the BBC’s non-commercial approach to coverage, highlighting the continuity and depth it brings to viewers and listeners alike. “What is really lovely is there are no commercial breaks,” he noted, reflecting on how discussions with pundits such as Tim Henman and John McEnroe help fill the gaps in play and maintain a natural flow for audiences.
As the start date approaches, anticipation is building to see how the new broadcasting partnership unfolds. The inclusion of TNT Sports promises to bring fresh perspective and perhaps a new audience to Wimbledon, while the BBC’s enduring stewardship will ensure that traditions beloved by generations remain unbroken.
This development reflects the evolving dynamics in sports broadcasting, driven both by technological change and shifting consumer habits. While the way fans watch Wimbledon may be changing, the tournament’s place at the heart of British sport endures, attracting global attention and uniting viewers in the shared thrill of world-class tennis.