List of Wimbledon broadcasters
Beginning with the 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.[1]
United Kingdom
Since 1937 the BBC has broadcast the tournament on television in the UK.[2][a] 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 2024.[4] ITV covered Wimbledon live from 1956 to 1968, but for fewer hours each day than the BBC. Fred Perry was their lead commentator.[5] 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 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, Tim Henman, Samantha Smith and Mark Petchey; tennis legends such as John McEnroe, Tracy Austin and Boris Becker; and general sports commentators including Andrew Cotter and Nick Mullins. The coverage is presented by Sue Barker (live) and Clare 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 Television Service, 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.[6]
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.[7]
Wimbledon was also involved in a piece of television history, when on 1 July 1967 the first official
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, though nowadays coverage typically ends either with a montage set to a popular song or with no music at all. 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.
Commmentators
Below is a list of men's singles final commentators for BBC TV.
Year | Network | Play-by-play
|
Colour commentators |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Boris Becker & Tim Henman |
2016 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Lleyton Hewitt & Tim Henman |
2015 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Andy Roddick & Tim Henman |
2014 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Jimmy Connors & Tim Henman |
2009 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Boris Becker & Tim Henman |
2008 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Tim Henman |
2005 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Jimmy Connors & John Lloyd |
2003 | BBC | Andrew Castle | Boris Becker & John Lloyd |
2002 | BBC | John Barrett | Boris Becker & John Lloyd |
2001 | BBC | John Barrett | Pat Cash & John Lloyd |
2000 | BBC | David Mercer | Pat Cash & John Lloyd |
1999 | BBC | David Mercer | Pat Cash |
1998 | BBC | John Barrett | Pat Cash |
1993 | BBC | John Barrett | Bill Threlfall |
1992 | BBC | John Barrett | Bill Threlfall & Mark Cox |
1980 | BBC | Dan Maskell | John Barrett & Mark Cox |
1977 | BBC | Dan Maskell | Mark Cox |
1976 | BBC | Dan Maskell | Jack Kramer |
1973 | BBC | Dan Maskell | Billy Knight |
1960 | BBC | Dan Maskell | Jack Kramer |
1955 | BBC | Dan Maskell | Peter West |
1951 | BBC | Freddie Grisewood | Dan Maskell |
1950 | BBC | Freddie Grisewood | Raymond Glendenning |
1946 | BBC | Freddie Grisewood | None |
Below is a list of men's singles final commentators for ITV.
Year | Network | Commentators |
---|---|---|
1956-1968 | ITV | Fred Perry, Emlyn Jones & Dennis Coombe |
Dan Maskell began commentating on the Wimbledon Championships in 1949 as an expert summariser for BBC Radio alongside Max Robertson, before switching to television in 1951 with Freddie Grisewood. He would remain as the "voice of tennis" on the BBC until his retirement in 1991. When commenting on a particularly exciting piece of play or an outstanding shot, he sometimes used his most remembered and revered catchphrase "Oh, I say!".[10] The last Wimbledon match that he commentated on was the 1991 Men's Singles final between Michael Stich and Boris Becker (which Stich won). The last tennis match Maskell commentated on for BBC Television was the 1991 Grand Slam Cup final between David Wheaton and Michael Chang.
John Barrett's broadcasting career with BBC Television began in 1971. Barrett began commentating on Wimbledon men's singles finals for BBC Television at the end of the 1970s. Barrett's voice was heard on the BBC broadcast of the epic fourth set tiebreak between Borg and McEnroe in the 1980 final (this has often been shown again on TV). Barrett commentated on Wimbledon men's singles finals until 1998. David Mercer took over from Barrett for the 1999 and 2000 men's singles finals, but Barrett commentated on the 2001 and 2002 finals. From 2003, Andrew Castle commentated on Wimbledon men's singles finals instead of Barrett. Barrett announced his retirement from the BBC commentary box at Wimbledon in 2006.
United States
In the United States,
From 1975 to 1999, premium channel HBO carried weekday coverage of Wimbledon. Hosts included Jim Lampley, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, John Lloyd and Barry MacKay among others.[12] ESPN took over as the cable-television partner in 2003.[13]
The AELTC grew frustrated with NBC's policy of waiting to begin its quarterfinal and semifinal coverage until after the conclusion of
Taped coverage using the world feed is aired in primetime and overnights on Tennis Channel and is branded Wimbledon Primetime.
Year | Network | Play-by-play
|
Color commentators |
2007 | NBC | Ted Robinson | John McEnroe (men only) and Mary Carillo (women
only) |
2006 | NBC | Ted Robinson | John McEnroe and Mary Carillo |
2005 | NBC | Ted Robinson | John McEnroe (men only) and Mary Carillo |
1978 | NBC | Bud Collins | John Newcombe |
From 1968 to 1972, Bud Collins worked for
As NBC's voice of the
Mary Carillo worked as both a host and analyst on
- NBC aired 6.5 hours of taped delayed coverage on Saturday, July 8, 1978, starting with the ladies final, and then the gentleman's final. The ladies final was actually played on Friday, July 7, but was tape delayed by a full day. The gentleman's final was aired on same-day tape delay. Host Jim Simpson was joined by Hilary Hilton during the Woman's Final.
- From Ernie Johnson, Jr. (studio host), Phil Jones (reporter), Barry MacKay (women's play-by-play), and Martina Navratilova (women's analyst) were among the commentators for TNT and CNN. Martina Navratilova also worked as an analyst on HBO's coverage of the Wimbledon Championships from 1995 through 1999.
See also
- Tennis on television
- Tennis on ESPN#Announcers
- Tennis on HBO#Commentators
- Tennis on NBC#Commentators
- BBC Sport#Tennis
Notes
- George Lyttleton-Rogers.[3]
References
- ^ "Wimbledon to launch in-house host broadcaster". Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- AELTC. Archived from the originalon 5 February 2015.
- ISBN 978-1-899039-40-1.
- ^ "BBC and All England Club extend contract to broadcast Wimbledon until 2024". Bbc.co.uk. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
- ^ Fred Perry: an autobiography (1984) p. 191
- ^ "Coverage of Sport on Television" (PDF). DCMS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
- ^ "BBC sorry for 'over-talking' Wimbledon commentators". BBC. 5 July 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
- ^ "Wimbledon Facts". www.watches2u.com. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
- ^ "Wimbledon in 4K: the best ways to catch the tennis action in Ultra HD". TechRadar. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
- ^ "Where were the Germans...?" timesonline.co.uk top 25 commentary moments
- ^ "NBC Sports establishes "Breakfast at Wimbledon"". NBC Sports History Page.
- ^ HBO Guides, program schedules, 1975 to 1999
- ^ "ESPN, Wimbledon come to terms". UPI.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (5 July 2011). "Why Wimbledon Switched to ESPN From NBC". The New York Times.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (3 July 2011). "ESPN Reaches Deal to Carry Wimbledon". The New York Times.
- ^ Michael Hiestand (5 July 2007). "Collins will call final Wimbledon for NBC". USA Today.
- ^ Larry Stewart (9 July 2007). "Collins makes exit from NBC". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Collins and reunited with Enberg on ESPN's tennis coverage". ESPN.com. 7 August 2007.
- ^ Hiestand, Michael (21 June 2011). "Dick Enberg says farewell to Wimbledon after 28 fortnights". USA Today.
- ^ Ex-Tennis Great Jimmy Connors to Work for Tennis Channel SI.com, January 28, 2009
- ^ "NBC Olympics:Bios:Mary Carillo". Retrieved 3 September 2009. [dead link]
- ^ [1]. buzzle.com
- U-T San Diego). Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ^ Umstead, R. (17 June 2002). "TNT's new Wimbledon doubles partner: CNNfn". Multichannel News. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
- ^ Dempsey, John (18 January 2000). "TNT, NBC ace bids to Wimbledon rights". Variety.
- YouTube
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (19 January 2000). "PLUS: BROADCASTING; Wimbledon Deals Total $30 Million". New York Times.
- ^ Kramer, Staci D. (14 May 2000). "TNT, CNN/SI Sign Courier for Wimbledon". Multichannel.