In the wake of its announcement of carrying the French Open until 2022, Tennis Channel announced this week a renewal of an agreement with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet to continue airing “Wimbledon Primetime” through 2023. While ESPN2 has the rights to air live tennis starting next year, Tennis Channel has been airing BBC’s coverage of the matches through the semifinals throughout the fortnight.
The new agreement allows Tennis Channel to air its program all the way until the end. Bill Macatee has been the host and Martina Navratilova has been the analyst. They will continue their roles with the program for the foreseeable future.
We have the announcement from Tennis Channel.
WIMBLEDON PRIMETIME TO AIR ON TENNIS CHANNEL THROUGH 2023
Network to Expand Coverage from First Monday through Final Sunday During Prestigious Grass-Court Tournament
LOS ANGELES and LONDON, Oct. 12, 2011 -Tennis Channel and the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) have agreed to a multi-year extension of Wimbledon Primetime, the network’s nightly program that brings its audience the day’s best tennis, encore matches, original features and coverage from in and around Wimbledon Village. Today Ian Ritchie, chief executive, AELTC; and Ken Solomon, chairman and CEO, Tennis Channel; announced the extension, which runs through 2023.
Solidifying the network’s relationship with the most prestigious grass-court tennis tournament in the world – and the sport’s oldest of its four major competitions – into the next decade, the new agreement also expands Tennis Channel’s overall Wimbledon coverage. Beginning in 2012, Wimbledon Primetime will air each evening of the two-week tournament. The network will also produce a 30-minute preview edition of the program that will run during the two weeks leading up to the event. This marks a significant broadening of Wimbledon Primetime‘s nightly reach, which previously had started on the first day of tournament play and concluded midway through the second week.
“We are most pleased to extend and expand our relationship with Tennis Channel,” said Ritchie. “Their nightly Wimbledon Primetime coverage has been a great success since its debut in 2008, bringing the best of the Championships, Wimbledon, to the largest possible American audience during the highest-viewer evening hours. The telecast allows fans to stay on top of everything that’s happened each day with the editorial scope and depth of an organization whose sole, year-round focus is the sport of tennis.”
“We’re deeply honored to extend our relationship with the All England Lawn Tennis Club for the coming decade, one of the most beautiful and hallowed places in the world of athletic competition,” said Solomon. “Wimbledon Primetime has become a nightly institution for both die-hard tennis fans as well as more casual viewers who watch and enjoy world-class sports.”
Wimbledon Primetime has been a pillar of the network’s complete Championships coverage since its premiere. Hosted by veteran sportscaster and Tennis Channel Grand Slam lead commentator Bill Macatee along with tennis legend Martina Navratilova, Wimbledon Primetime brought one of tennis’ most beloved events to prime-time audiences for the first time in U.S. television history. The program offers more than 100 hours of match play, analysis, player interviews, expert-guest features and complete highlights. Wimbledon Primetime also includes expert commentary and insight from former players Lindsay Davenport and Justin Gimelstob.
In addition to continued production of the network’s evening program, www.tennischannel.com features daily highlights, exclusive guest interviews, bloggers, columnists and other tournament-related content. The Wimbledon-themed sweepstakes and “Racquet Bracket” tournament prediction game have also proven to be popular on-line features.
That’s going to do it.
