Brett Ferino
04-15-2003, 01:24 PM
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - TV rights to the Wimbledon
tennis tournament have landed in ESPN's court through 2006.
The sports cable network signed a four-year deal estimated at about $6 million per year with the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. The deal will put 120 hours of tennis action on ESPN, though most of the semifinals and finals will continue to air on NBC. ESPN will hold on to one women's and one men's semifinal game. The deal extends rebroadcasts on ESPN Classic as well as ESPN HD, video-on-demand and broadband offerings.
Formerly on TNT, Wimbledon has seen its ratings steadily decline in recent years. TNT will replace Wimbledon with coverage of the British Open golf tournament, which previously aired on ESPN.
tennis tournament have landed in ESPN's court through 2006.
The sports cable network signed a four-year deal estimated at about $6 million per year with the All-England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. The deal will put 120 hours of tennis action on ESPN, though most of the semifinals and finals will continue to air on NBC. ESPN will hold on to one women's and one men's semifinal game. The deal extends rebroadcasts on ESPN Classic as well as ESPN HD, video-on-demand and broadband offerings.
Formerly on TNT, Wimbledon has seen its ratings steadily decline in recent years. TNT will replace Wimbledon with coverage of the British Open golf tournament, which previously aired on ESPN.