Andrew Castle has urged the BBC to keep their Wimbledon TV rights.
The BBC have been showing Wimbledon in the UK since 1937 but TNT Sports have become the secondary broadcaster for 2025.
TNT Sports have taken over the daily 90-minute highlights show, aired at the end of each day’s play, and will also be showing the singles finals along with the BBC, with viewers able to watch those matches on either channel.
As things stand, Wimbledon is a Category A event by Ofcom, meaning that live coverage must be made available on free-to-air channels like the BBC.
Wimbledon reportedly costs the BBC around £60m a year and a deal is currently in place to keep them as the principal broadcaster until 2027.
TNT Sports, meanwhile, have the UK rights to show the Australian Open and French Open. The US Open rights are owned by Sky Sports in the UK.
‘No commercial breaks is really lovely’
The BBC’s current TV deal with Wimbledon is up in 2027 and Castle, who works for the broadcaster, has told Metro via Betway that the iconic Grand Slam tennis event should always be free to air without commercial breaks.
‘I don’t think they ever would [allow a rival broadcaster to take over],’ former British tennis player Castle said about the BBC’s TV deal.
‘In terms of a domestic audience in the UK is concerned, I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t on the BBC and free to air.
‘But I’ve been surprised before. I just don’t see why or the particular benefit and that’s what matters to me.
‘It’s an institution and an event, not a tennis tournament. As long as people see it because it is the big showcase.
‘When I think of Wimbledon on the BBC, what is really lovely is there are no commercial breaks.
‘And from my point of view in commentary, I’ve got to think about what we are going to talk about in the breaks with Tim Henman, John McEnroe, Nick Kyrgios – that’s what I’m thinking about towards the end of a game.’
Who has the UK rights for Grand Slam tennis?
- Australian Open – TNT Sports
- French Open – TNT Sports
- Wimbledon – BBC (main) | TNT Sports (secondary)
- US Open – Sky Sports
TNT Sports’ Wimbledon deal was originally signed by Eurosport in May last year before they left UK screens and their television rights were absorbed.
It should be noted that TNT Sports have currently not signalled any interest becoming the principal broadcaster of Wimbledon.
A peak audience of 7.5 million people tuned into BBC One last year to watch Carlos Alcaraz defeat Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final.
This year’s Wimbledon Championships get underway on June 30 as the world’s best tennis players battle it out to land a major trophy in SW19.
Castle is hopeful that Emma Raducanu will be seeded for her home Grand Slam by climbing into the world top 32. The British tennis star has only ever been seeded once at Wimbledon – which came three years ago.
Emma Raducanu tipped for Wimbledon seeding
Quizzed about Raducanu, currently ranked world No.37, Caste said: ‘Emma now seems to be doing what a lot of people have been saying what she needs to do – and that is playing a lot of matches.
‘Whether the body couldn’t handle it or the mind wanted it, it doesn’t really matter about the past. We’re seeing a very exciting new phase for her and who knows how long it lasts but she is looking motivated, she looks very happy on the court.
‘The thing is, nobody comes from the qualifying to win the US Open on your first tournament [if you can’t play]. That was ridiculous. [It] changed her life and [she] became mega famous and mega wealthy.
‘Of course, that takes adjustment with how your friends treat you, how you treat people and what investments you make alongside performances.
‘She’s done that and now we see this wonderful player producing really interesting tennis. The way she moves around court is balletic.
[Her] serve has calmed down and looks good. I see her getting right back up there again and I’m really pleased. Being seeded at Wimbledon and potentially also at the US Open is good news.’