Tag Archives: Wimbledon

New deal with ESPN means all live from Wimbledon

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In an age of endless channels, it just seems ridiculous for anything to be on tape delay. So little wonder why tennis fans are cheering over ESPN’s new 12-year deal as the exclusive U.S. network for Wimbledon.

The coverage, which began Monday, will be all live for the first time ever. Previously, NBC’s use of tape delay annoyed many fans and apparently Wimbledon.

Said Jason Bernstein, ESPN’s senior director of programming and acquisitions:

During the negotiation, it was abundantly clear that being live and bringing fans live matches was of paramount importance to both the All England Club and ESPN.  No doubt about it.  And our ability to do so, lining up two networks,  given ESPN3 and 3D, merely ensured that we were serving all fans on all devices, all live, all the time, given that that’s what fans have required for so many years and given the expansive nature of social media and the social currency that live sport delivers.

Later, Bernstein had this response when asked about NBC’s use of tape-delay coverage for the Olympics.

From my perspective I’d rather not make this an NBC or an ESPN thing as much as this is a fan thing, and fans deserve live coverage, and we’re obviously honored to be a part of delivering live coverage here and in a way that it hasn’t been done before.  And we think that whether the event is Wimbledon, the Australian Open or the Euro Championships, fans are way too smart and way too savvy to accept anything other than live.

Here are the details of the Wimbledon coverage from ESPN:

A new era of television coverage for one of sport’s most prestigious and historic events will begin when ESPN presents The Championships, Wimbledon complete, live and exclusively across its networks from first ball Monday, June 25, with day-long marathon telecasts through to the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Finals, Saturday, July 7, and Sunday, July 8, respectively.  ESPN’s 10th Wimbledon will expand to 140 live hours in high definition on ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD – including three days when the two networks offer all-day “cross court coverage” (airing matches simultaneously) – plus highlights and reairs of both Finals on ABC.  All the action on ESPN and ESPN2 is also available through WatchESPN online at WatchESPN.com and on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.

In addition, ESPN3 will also increase its schedule to more than 800 hours of a multi-screen offering – all available TV courts (up to nine) presented from first ball to last ball each day – which will be available along with ESPN and ESPN2’s action via the WatchESPN app.  The service will also offer matches on demand after they occur.

Here’s hoping John McEnroe does more than just tennis on ESPN

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In the no-surprise department, ESPN named John McEnroe as its lead analyst for Wimbledon. ESPN assumes coverage of the entire tournament this year.

As USA Today’s Michael Hiestand writes, “(ESPN) will formally announce Friday what would be shocking only if it didn’t happen.”

However, here’s the passage from the story that caught my attention:

McEnroe, who had a short-lived CNBC talk show in 2004, suggests he’s also open to ESPN on-air roles beyond tennis. “There’s been talk about that in the past. That’s intriguing. … I’m open to suggestions.”

McEnroe is the few analysts that you stop and watch just because it’s John McEnroe. That sense of energy and tension has carried over from the court to television.

McEnroe also has a wide range of interests in sports and otherwise. He would make a compelling figure for a program with the right format.

If he’s “open,” ESPN should try to make this happen. And if not ESPN, then there’s the NBC Sports Network and CBS Sports Network. Both networks certainly would benefit from his presence.