Editing Wimbledon Championships (section)

==Media coverage and attendance==
{{main|List of Wimbledon broadcasters}}

===Radio Wimbledon===
{{Main|Radio Wimbledon}}
Until 2011, when its contract ended,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.swlondoner.co.uk/radio-wimbledon-lose-rights-to-broadcast-wimbledon-tennis-championships/|title=Radio Wimbledon lose rights to broadcast Wimbledon tennis Championships|first=Nicolas|last=Atkin|date=23 September 2011|access-date=16 September 2018|newspaper=South West Londoner|archive-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615034236/http://www.swlondoner.co.uk/radio-wimbledon-lose-rights-to-broadcast-wimbledon-tennis-championships/|url-status=live}}</ref> Radio Wimbledon could be heard within a five-mile radius on 87.7 [[FM broadcasting|FM]], and also online. It operated under a [[Restricted Service Licence]]. Presenters included Sam Lloyd and Ali Barton. Typically, they worked alternate four-hour shifts until the end of the last match of the day. Reporters and commentators included [[Gigi Salmon]], Nick Lestor, Rupert Bell, Nigel Bidmead, Guy Swindells, Lucie Ahl, Nadine Towell and Helen Whitaker. Often, they reported from the "Crow's Nest", an elevated building housing the Court 3 and 4 scoreboards which affords views of most of the outside courts. Regular guests included Sue Mappin. In later years, Radio Wimbledon acquired a second low-power FM frequency (within the grounds only) of 96.3 FM for uninterrupted Centre Court commentary, and, from 2006, a third for coverage from No. 1 Court on 97.8 FM. Hourly news bulletins and travel (using [[Radio Data System|RDS]]) were also broadcast.

Radio Wimbledon's theme tune is called "Purple and Green" and has been used since 1996, when it was composed by British composer Tony Cox.

===Television coverage===

Beginning with the [[2018 Wimbledon Championships|2018 tournament]], an in-house operation known as Wimbledon Broadcasting Services (WBS) has served as the official host broadcaster of the tournament, replacing [[BBC Sport]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/wimbledon-to-launch-in-house-host-broadcaster|title=Wimbledon to launch in-house host broadcaster|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719020946/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/wimbledon-to-launch-in-house-host-broadcaster|url-status=live}}</ref>

====United Kingdom====
[[File:Wimbledon Championships Canary Wharf.jpg|thumb|right|People watching the Championships' broadcast in [[Canary Wharf]]]]
{{Further|Timeline of tennis on UK television}}
Since 1937 the [[BBC Sport|BBC]] has broadcast the tournament on television in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Sarah Kirkham|title=Throwback Thursday: The first Wimbledon on television|url=http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2015-02-05/throwback_thursday_the_first_wimbledon_on_television.html|website=www.wimbledon.com|publisher=[[All England Lawn Tennis Club|AELTC]]|date=5 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205210241/http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2015-02-05/throwback_thursday_the_first_wimbledon_on_television.html|archive-date=5 February 2015}}</ref>{{efn|name=bbccoverage|During the first year of television coverage in 1937 the BBC used two cameras at the Centre Court to transmit matches for a maximum of half an hour a day. The first match to be broadcast was between [[Bunny Austin]] and [[George Lyttleton-Rogers]].<ref name=little2013>{{cite book|last=Little|first=Alan|title=Wimbledon Compendium 2013|year=2013|publisher=All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club|location=London|isbn=978-1-899039-40-1|page=483|edition=23}}</ref>}} Between 1956 and 1968, the Championships were also covered by the ITV Network, but since 1969 the BBC has had a monopoly. The matches covered are primarily split between its two main terrestrial channels, [[BBC One]] and [[BBC Two]], and their Red Button service. This can result in live matches being moved across all 3 channels. The BBC holds the broadcast rights for Wimbledon until 2027.<ref>{{Cite news|title=BBC extends Wimbledon broadcast deal|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/57779791|access-date=9 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709115119/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/57779791|url-status=live}}</ref>  During the days of [[British Satellite Broadcasting]], its sports channel carried extra coverage of Wimbledon for subscribers. One of the most notable British commentators was [[Dan Maskell]], who was known as the BBC's "voice of tennis" until his retirement in 1991. [[John Barrett (tennis)|John Barrett]] succeeded him in that role until he retired in 2006. Current commentators working for the BBC at Wimbledon include British ex-players [[Andrew Castle]], [[John Lloyd (tennis)|John Lloyd]], [[Tim Henman]], [[Greg Rusedski]], [[Samantha Smith (tennis)|Samantha Smith]] and [[Mark Petchey]]; tennis legends such as [[John McEnroe]], [[Tracy Austin]], [[Boris Becker]] and [[Lindsay Davenport]]; and general sports commentators including [[David Mercer (broadcaster)|David Mercer]], [[Barry Davies]], [[Andrew Cotter]] and [[Nick Mullins]]. The coverage is presented by [[Sue Barker]] (live) and [[Claire Balding]] (highlights). Previous BBC presenters include [[Des Lynam]], [[David Vine]], [[John Inverdale]] and [[Harry Carpenter]].

The Wimbledon Finals are obliged to be shown live and in full on terrestrial television (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, or Channel 5) by government mandate. Highlights of the rest of the tournament must be provided by terrestrial stations; live coverage (excepting the finals) may be sought by satellite or cable TV.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/PDF/sport_on_television.pdf |title=Coverage of Sport on Television |publisher=[[Department for Culture, Media and Sport|DCMS]] |access-date=26 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415173542/http://www.culture.gov.uk/PDF/sport_on_television.pdf |archive-date=15 April 2010 }}</ref>

The BBC was forced to apologise after many viewers complained about "over-talking" by its commentary team during the TV coverage of the event in 2011. It said in a statement that views on commentary were subjective but that they "do appreciate that over-talking can irritate our audience". The BBC added that it hoped it had achieved "the right balance" across its coverage and was "of course sorry if on occasion you have not been satisfied". Tim Henman and John McEnroe were among the ex-players commentating.<ref>{{cite news|title=BBC sorry for 'over-talking' Wimbledon commentators|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14026985|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 July 2011|date=5 July 2011|archive-date=5 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705112511/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14026985|url-status=live}}</ref>

Wimbledon was also involved in a piece of television history, when on 1 July 1967 the first official [[colour television]] broadcast took place in the UK. Four hours live coverage of the [[1967 Wimbledon Championships|1967 Championships]] was shown on BBC Two, which was the first television channel in Europe to regularly broadcast in colour. Footage of that historic match no longer survives, however, the Gentlemen's Final of that year is still held in the BBC archives because it was the first Gentlemen's Final transmitted in colour. The tennis balls used were traditionally white, but were switched to yellow in 1986 to make them stand out for colour television.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watches2u.com/blog/wimbledon-facts.html|title=Wimbledon Facts|website=www.watches2u.com|access-date=2 May 2019|archive-date=2 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502092344/https://www.watches2u.com/blog/wimbledon-facts.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 2007, Wimbledon matches have been transmitted in [[High-definition television|high-definition]], originally on the BBC's free-to-air channel [[BBC HD]], with continual live coverage during the tournament of Centre Court and Court No. 1 as well as an evening highlights show ''[[Today at Wimbledon]]''.  Coverage is now shown on BBC One and Two's HD feeds. Beginning 2018, all centre court matches are televised in [[4K resolution|4K]] [[Ultra-high-definition television|ultra-high-definition]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.techradar.com/how-to/wimbledon-in-4k-the-best-ways-to-catch-the-tennis-action-in-ultra-hd|title=Wimbledon in 4K: the best ways to catch the tennis action in Ultra HD|work=TechRadar|access-date=3 July 2018|archive-date=3 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703051152/https://www.techradar.com/how-to/wimbledon-in-4k-the-best-ways-to-catch-the-tennis-action-in-ultra-hd|url-status=live}}</ref>

The BBC's opening theme music for Wimbledon was composed by [[Keith Mansfield]] and is titled "Light and Tuneful". A piece titled "A Sporting Occasion" is the traditional closing theme. The finally notes of this theme are regularly used to end BBC One and BBC Two Wimbledon transmissions. For the end of broadcast at the conclusion of the tournament a montage set to popular music is traditionally used instead. Mansfield also composed the piece "World Champion", used by NBC during intervals (change-overs, set breaks, etc.) and at the close of broadcasts throughout the tournament.

====Ireland====
In Ireland, [[RTÉ]] broadcast the tournament during the 1980s and 1990s on their second channel [[RTÉ Two]], they also provided highlights of the games in the evening. The commentary provided was given by Matt Doyle a former Irish-American professional tennis player and Jim Sherwin a former RTÉ newsreader. Caroline Murphy was the presenter of the programme. RTÉ made the decision in 1998 to discontinue broadcasting the tournament due to falling viewing figures and the large number of viewers watching on the BBC.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/1998/0708/98070800158.html|title=Tennis – set for change?|date=8 July 1998|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=22 June 2010|archive-date=9 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209091624/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/1998/0708/98070800158.html|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2005 until 2014 [[TG4]] Ireland's Irish-language broadcaster provided coverage of the tournament. Live coverage was provided in the [[Irish language]] while they broadcast highlights in English at night.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tg4.ie/bearla/corp/pr/2009/0620-1.asp |title=TG4'S SUCCESSFUL TENNIS COVERAGE TO CONTINUE WITH WIMBLEDON 2009 |date=20 June 2009 |publisher=TG4 |access-date=2 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218210514/http://www.tg4.ie/bearla/corp/pr/2009/0620-1.asp |archive-date=18 February 2010 }}</ref>

In 2015 Wimbledon moved to pay TV broadcaster [[Setanta Sports]] under a 3-year agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.setanta.com/ie/big-summer-of-sport-on-setanta/|title=Big summer of sport on Setanta|work=Setanta Sports|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612105325/http://www.setanta.com/ie/big-summer-of-sport-on-setanta/|archive-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> Its successor, [[Eir Sport]], took over broadcasting rights in Ireland until its demise in 2021.

====Americas====
In the United States, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] began showing taped highlights of the Wimbledon Gentlemen's Singles Final in the 1960s on its ''[[Wide World of Sports (U.S. TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]'' series. [[NBC]] began a 43-year run of covering Wimbledon in 1969, with same-day taped (and often edited) coverage of the Gentlemen's Singles Final. In 1979, the network began carrying the Gentlemen's Singles Final live, and in 1982, the Ladies' Singles Final. For the next few decades, NBC aired "Breakfast at Wimbledon" specials on weekends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history#decade_5|title=NBC Sports establishes "Breakfast at Wimbledon"|website=NBC Sports History Page|access-date=6 August 2017|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806140431/http://www.nbcsports.com/our-history#decade_5|url-status=live}}</ref> Live coverage started early in the morning (the US being a minimum of 5 hours behind the UK) and continued well into the afternoon, interspersed with commentary and interviews from [[Bud Collins]]. Collins was sacked by NBC in 2007, but was promptly hired by [[ESPN]], the cable home for The Championships in the States. For many years NBC's primary Wimbledon host was veteran broadcaster [[Dick Enberg]].

From 1975 to 1999, premium channel [[HBO]] carried weekday coverage of Wimbledon. Hosts included [[Jim Lampley]], [[Billie Jean King]], [[Martina Navratilova]], [[John Lloyd (tennis)|John Lloyd]] and [[Barry MacKay (tennis)|Barry MacKay]] among others.<ref>HBO Guides, program schedules, 1975 to 1999</ref> [[ESPN]] took over as the cable-television partner in 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=ESPN, Wimbledon come to terms |url=https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/04/14/ESPN-Wimbledon-come-to-terms/27281050341777/ |work=UPI |access-date=12 July 2019 |archive-date=12 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712175032/https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/04/14/ESPN-Wimbledon-come-to-terms/27281050341777/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The AELTC grew frustrated with NBC's policy of waiting to begin its quarterfinal and semifinal coverage until after the conclusion of ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' at 10 a.m. local, as well as broadcasting live only to the [[Eastern Time Zone]] and using [[broadcast delay|tape-delay]] in all others. NBC also held over high-profile matches for delayed broadcast in its window, regardless of any ongoing matches. In one notorious incident in [[2009 Wimbledon Championships – Men's singles|2009]], ESPN2's coverage of the [[Tommy Haas]]–[[Novak Djokovic]] quarterfinal was forced off the air nationwide when it ran past 10 a.m. Eastern, after which NBC showed the conclusion of the match on tape only after presenting the previous [[Ivo Karlović]]–[[Roger Federer]] quarterfinal in full.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandomir |first1=Richard |title=Why Wimbledon Switched to ESPN From NBC |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/sports/tennis/why-wimbledon-switched-to-espn-from-nbc.html |work=The New York Times |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=12 July 2019 |archive-date=12 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712175028/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/sports/tennis/why-wimbledon-switched-to-espn-from-nbc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Beginning with the 2012 tournament, coverage moved to ESPN and [[ESPN2]], marking the second major tennis championship (after the Australian Open) where live coverage is exclusively on pay television, while [[ESPN Deportes]] provides coverage in Spanish. The Finals are also broadcast tape-delayed on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/espn-reaches-deal-to-carry-wimbledon/ | work=The New York Times | first=Richard | last=Sandomir | title=ESPN Reaches Deal to Carry Wimbledon | date=3 July 2011 | access-date=4 July 2011 | archive-date=6 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706071938/http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/espn-reaches-deal-to-carry-wimbledon/ | url-status=live }}</ref> On 9 July 2021, ESPN and the AELTC reached an agreement to extend ESPN's coverage for 12 years, beginning 2024 until 2035. This agreement included live coverage of the middle weekend on ABC starting in 2022, following the announcement that play would occur on the middle Sunday, historically a rest day.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 July 2021|title=ESPN, AELTC Sign 12-Year Agreement to Extend Exclusive Relationship for The Championships, Wimbledon through 2035|url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/07/espn-aeltc-sign-12-year-agreement-to-extend-exclusive-relationship-for-the-championships-wimbledon-through-2035/|access-date=10 July 2021|website=ESPN Press Room U.S.|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710060118/https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2021/07/espn-aeltc-sign-12-year-agreement-to-extend-exclusive-relationship-for-the-championships-wimbledon-through-2035/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Taped coverage using the world feed is aired in primetime and overnights on [[Tennis Channel]] and is branded ''Wimbledon Primetime''.

In Canada, coverage of Wimbledon is exclusively carried by [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and [[RDS Info|RDS]], which are co-owned by Bell Media and ESPN. Prior to 2012, [[CBC Television]] and [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|SRC]] were the primary broadcaster of Wimbledon for Canada, and its live coverage of the tournament predated "Breakfast at Wimbledon" by over a decade, Canada being at least four hours from its fellow [[Commonwealth realms|Commonwealth realm]].

In Mexico, the [[Televisa]] family of networks has aired Wimbledon since the early 1960s.  Presently, most weekend matches are broadcast through [[Canal 5 (Televisa Network)|Canal 5]] with the weekday matches broadcast on the [[Televisa Deportes Network]].  As Mexico is six hours behind the U.K., some Canal 5 affiliates air the weekend matches as the first program of the day after [[sign-on]].  Although Mexico had begun broadcasting in colour in 1962, Wimbledon continued to air in black and white in Mexico until colour television came to the United Kingdom in 1967.

In most of the remainder of Latin America, Wimbledon airs on [[ESPN Latin America|ESPN]], as do the other Grand Slam tournaments. In Brazil, [[SporTV]] has exclusive rights to the broadcast.

====Other countries====
In several European countries, Wimbledon is shown live on [[Eurosport 1]], [[Eurosport 2]] and the Eurosport Player. Although there are some exceptions, as in Denmark, where the Danish [[TV2 (Denmark)|TV2]] holds the right to show matches until 2022 and in Italy where [[Sky Sport (Italy)|Sky Sport]] and [[SuperTennis]] holds the rights to show live matches until 2022. In the Netherlands Center Court is shown live on Eurosport 1 and all other courts are shown live on the Eurosport Player. But Court One is covered live on [[Ziggo Sport]]/[[Ziggo Sport Select]]. Wimbledon has been exclusively broadcast on [[Sky Sport (Germany)|Sky Sport]] in Germany since 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://satvision.de/aktuelles-und-news/sky-verlangert-exklusiv-rechte-fur-wimbledon-7421|title=Weiter nur im Pay-TV: Wimbledon läuft bis 2022 exklusiv bei Sky|trans-title=Only on pay TV: Wimbledon runs exclusively on Sky until 2022|date=13 December 2018|access-date=4 June 2022|work=Tennis Magazin|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604083828/https://www.tennismagazin.de/news/wimbledon-bis-2022-exklusiv-bei-sky/|archive-date=4 June 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2018, Sky extended its contract for Austria, Germany and Switzerland until 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysportaustria.at/sky-uebertraegt-wimbledon-bis-2022-live-und-exklusiv/|title=Sky überträgt Wimbledon bis 2022 live und exklusiv|trans-title=Sky will broadcast Wimbledon live and exclusively until 2022|date=13 December 2018|access-date=5 June 2022|publisher=Sky Sport Austria|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203081617/https://www.skysportaustria.at/sky-uebertraegt-wimbledon-bis-2022-live-und-exklusiv/|archive-date=3 December 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Australia, the free-to-air [[Nine Network]] covered Wimbledon for almost 40 years but decided to drop their broadcast following the 2010 tournament, citing declining ratings and desire to use money saved to bid on other sports coverage. In April 2011, it was announced that the [[Seven Network]], the then-host broadcaster of the Australian Open, along with its sister channel [[7Two]] would broadcast the event from 2011. Pay television network [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports Australia]] also covered the event. Free-to-air coverage returned to Nine Network in 2021. In India and its Subcontinental region, it is broadcast on [[Star Sports (Indian TV network)|Star Sports]]. In Pakistan it is broadcast on [[PTV Sports]].

Coverage is free-to-air in New Zealand through [[TVNZ One]], beginning each night at 11 pm (midday in London).  In 2017 their new channel, [[TVNZ Duke]] (also free-to-air), carried an alternative to the main feed, including (for example) matches on outside courts involving New Zealand players.

[[Fox Sports Asia]] held broadcasting rights across Southeast Asia from 1992 until network's shutdown in 2021. [[SPOTV]] currently holds broadcasting rights across Southeast Asia.

Most matches are also available for viewing through internet betting websites and other live streaming services, as television cameras are set up to provide continuous coverage on nearly all the courts.