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Eurosport gets green light for live Wimbledon coverage Eurosport gets green light for live Wimbledon coverage Eurosport gets green light for live Wimbledon coverage
(4 months later)
Eurosport will make broadcasting history at Wimbledon when it becomes the first commercial pay-TV broadcaster to air live UK coverage from the All England Club.Eurosport will make broadcasting history at Wimbledon when it becomes the first commercial pay-TV broadcaster to air live UK coverage from the All England Club.
The Discovery-owned pay-TV channel will broadcast live coverage of the finals weekend as well as a daily highlights package following the deal with the BBC, which was approved by media regulator Ofcom on Thursday.The Discovery-owned pay-TV channel will broadcast live coverage of the finals weekend as well as a daily highlights package following the deal with the BBC, which was approved by media regulator Ofcom on Thursday.
The BBC retains all of the free-to-air rights, with its coverage unaffected by the deal with Discovery which will begin with this year’s championships and run until 2020.The BBC retains all of the free-to-air rights, with its coverage unaffected by the deal with Discovery which will begin with this year’s championships and run until 2020.
It will be the first time a commercial pay-TV broadcaster has screened live coverage from Wimbledon, which will begin this year on 27 June.It will be the first time a commercial pay-TV broadcaster has screened live coverage from Wimbledon, which will begin this year on 27 June.
However, it will not be the first commercial broadcaster to cover the event, as ITV relayed live coverage of the championships, along with the BBC, in the 1960s.However, it will not be the first commercial broadcaster to cover the event, as ITV relayed live coverage of the championships, along with the BBC, in the 1960s.
@johnplunkett149 1966 pic.twitter.com/e92V1AMFyb@johnplunkett149 1966 pic.twitter.com/e92V1AMFyb
The BBC and Discovery have been long-time partners, from natural history programming to the Olympics.The BBC and Discovery have been long-time partners, from natural history programming to the Olympics.
The BBC faced the prospect of losing the Olympics after the rights were bought by Discovery last year, but the corporation retained the games after signing a sub-licensing deal with Discovery in February.The BBC faced the prospect of losing the Olympics after the rights were bought by Discovery last year, but the corporation retained the games after signing a sub-licensing deal with Discovery in February.
Speaking earlier this month, Eurosport chief executive Peter Hutton said it would be a “real privilege to be first pay broadcaster to be allowed into Wimbledon”.Speaking earlier this month, Eurosport chief executive Peter Hutton said it would be a “real privilege to be first pay broadcaster to be allowed into Wimbledon”.
Discovery and Eurosport have been on drive to buy more sports rights since Discovery became a majority shareholder in 2014.Discovery and Eurosport have been on drive to buy more sports rights since Discovery became a majority shareholder in 2014.
Susanna Dinnage, executive vice president and managing director, Discovery Networks UK and Ireland, said: “It is fantastic to offer fans the chance to watch one of the most iconic events in British sport on Eurosport for the first time.Susanna Dinnage, executive vice president and managing director, Discovery Networks UK and Ireland, said: “It is fantastic to offer fans the chance to watch one of the most iconic events in British sport on Eurosport for the first time.
“Adding the Wimbledon rights means we now have live coverage of all four top tournaments and cements our position as the home of grand slam tennis in the UK.”“Adding the Wimbledon rights means we now have live coverage of all four top tournaments and cements our position as the home of grand slam tennis in the UK.”
In a statement, Ofcom said it had “given its consent to requests from the BBC and Discovery Networks to broadcast live coverage of the Wimbledon Championships 2016 to 2020.In a statement, Ofcom said it had “given its consent to requests from the BBC and Discovery Networks to broadcast live coverage of the Wimbledon Championships 2016 to 2020.
“We consulted in May 2016 on these requests and Ofcom received one response in support of the proposals.“We consulted in May 2016 on these requests and Ofcom received one response in support of the proposals.
“After considering the response and information supplied by the BBC and Discovery Networks in support of their applications, Ofcom has decided to grant consent to the proposals for coverage.”“After considering the response and information supplied by the BBC and Discovery Networks in support of their applications, Ofcom has decided to grant consent to the proposals for coverage.”