Wimbledon to leave NBC after 43 years and will move to ESPN, reports say

Wimbledon tennis logo
Image Credit: Wimbledon.com

The Wimbledon tennis event is being set to leave NBC after 43 years and will be moved to ESPN, with the formal announcement was said to be made this week.

According to SportsBusiness Journal on Sunday, July 3, 2011, which first reported about the transfer, a source told them that Wimbledon has decided to to sell its full rights package to ESPN.

As noted on its report, Wimbledon, in which Fox, ESPN and NBC has been competing for the rights of airing its events, will be ending a 43-year deal with NBC and all Wimbledon tennis matches can be watched on cable live via ESPN.

Meanwhile, NBC has now a 4-year deal with Wimbledon, which was said to have a $13-million average annually, has reportedly ended last Sunday when Novak Djokovic won the 2011 Wimbledon Finals against Rafael Nadal.

ESPN previously signed deals to bring events to cable such as the British Open and BCS Championships, but no further details about the Wimbledon were known and the deal has not yet been signed by both parties as of this writing.

Related News

Venus Williams eliminated from Wimbledon 2011, loses to Tsvetana Pironkova in Round 4



Updated: June 30, 2011 11:58 p.m. Read Petra Kvitova wins over Victoria Azarenka, reaches Wimbledon 2011 Finals Just like her sister Serena, Venus Williams was eliminated from Wimbledon 2011 on Monday, June 27, 2011, after she lost to Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria in Round 4. Venus Williams on Wimbledon [...]

Wimbledon 2011 Finals: Sharapova vs Kvitova tennis match, Petra Kvitova wins



Petra Kvitova after winning the Wimbledon 2011 Finals Women's title, beating Maria Sharapova Image Credit: Guardian.co.uk Petra Kvitova won the Wimbledon 2011 Finals Women's title on Saturday, July 02, 2011 and the first time in her career, after beating Maria Sharapova of Russia, 6-3, 6-4. As noted at Br [...]

Serena Williams wins Wimbledon 2011 Round 2, beats Simona Halep



Updated: June 26, 2011 12:12 a.m. Read Serena Williams wins Wimbledon 2011 Round 3, beats Maria Kirilenko Serena Williams won round 2 of Wimbledon 2011 on Thursday, June 23, 2011, as the defending champion beat Simona Halep of Romania. Serena Williams on Wimbledon 2011 Round 2 (June 23, 2011) Image Cre [...]

Serena Williams wins Wimbledon 2011 Round 3, beats Maria Kirilenko



Updated: June 27, 2011 11:30 p.m. Read Serena Williams eliminated from Wimbledon 2011, loses to Marion Bartoli in Round 4 Serena Williams file photo Image Credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Defending champion Serena Williams won the Wimbledon 2011 Round 3, after beating Maria Kirilenko of Russia on Sa [...]

Petra Kvitova wins over Victoria Azarenka, reaches Wimbledon 2011 Finals



Updated: July 2, 2011 11:05 p.m. Read Wimbledon 2011 Finals: Sharapova vs Kvitova tennis match, Petra Kvitova wins Petra Kvitova won over Victoria Azarenka on Thursday, June 30, 2011 which was held at the Centre Court, and the first one to have reached Wimbledon 2011 Finals, 6-1, 3-6 and 6-2. Petra Kvito [...]

Serena Williams eliminated from Wimbledon 2011, loses to Marion Bartoli in Round 4



Serena Williams lost from Marion Bartoli of France in Round 4 on Monday, June 27, 2011, and was eliminated from Wimbledon 2011. Serena Williams on Wimbledon 2011 Round 4 Image Credit: Anja Niedringhaus / AP As noted on international sports news sites, Serena Williams was defeated by Marion Bartoli in the 4 [...]

Serena Williams complains favoritism on Wimbledon 2011, gets support from WTA



Updated: June 26, 2011 12:12 a.m. Read Serena Williams wins Wimbledon 2011 Round 3, beats Maria Kirilenko Serena Williams complained favoritism after reportedly being forced to play at Court Two of Wimbledon, and won the support from WTA (Women's Tennis Association). Serena Williams file photo Image Cre [...]

Wonder Woman Rejected by NBC, Warner Bros TV Free to Offer The Series To Other TV Networks



Wonder Woman Credit: Justin Lubin / NBC Wonder Woman has been rejected by NBC, several entertainment news sites reported on Sunday. According to reports, mixed reviews at test screenings may have hindered the show. Wonder Woman, which stars Adrianne Palicki as the superhero and Liz Hurley as the villain, "just [...]

2011 Wimbledon Finals: Novak Djokovic wins over Rafael Nadal for Men’s title



Novak Djokovic won the 2011 Wimbledon Finals Men's singles title on Sunday, July 03, 2011, after beating Rafael Nadal, 6-4, 6-1, 1-6 and 6-3. Novak Djokovic, holding his 2011 Wimbledon trophy after beating Rafael Nadal Image Credit: Getty Images As noted at British news sites that day, the Nadal vs Djokov [...]

ESPN sky camera falls during Insight Bowl, nearly hit Iowa players (Video)



ESPN camera, nearly hitting Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt Jr (#7) Image Credit: ESPN video An ESPN sky camera fell during the Insight Bowl in Tempe, Arizona on Friday, December 30, 2011, as shown in the video below; with no one reportedly hurt. As noted at US news sites on Saturday, the ESPN camera dropped [...]