Wimbledon To Stay Loyal To BBC After Loss Of Control Over Olympic Coverage From 2020

Wimbledon "remains the one global sports event that the BBC can confidently count on keeping the rights for into the next decade," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL. The importance of the flagship tennis fortnight to the BBC "is magnified by the loss of control" of its Olympic coverage on Monday after '20 "and the strong possibility of having to share or even lose the Six Nations" after '17. However, the All England Club, which will start talks with the BBC later this year or early in '16 about the next TV deal from Wimbledon 2018, is "expected to sign another exclusive contract with the BBC without too much discussion." This is despite the subscription channels asking Wimbledon to name its own price "for a slice of the action." Wimbledon is "the one sports body not influenced by money when it comes to TV rights" (DAILY MAIL, 6/29).