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Published July 06, 2011, 07:36 AM

ESPN takes over Wimbledon coverage

All of Wimbledon will be televised by ESPN starting next year, ending NBC’s 43-year run broadcasting the Grand Slam tournament. ESPN and the All England Club announced a 12-year contract Tuesday that gives the cable network the U.S. TV rights to all matches at Wimbledon.

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — All of Wimbledon will be televised by ESPN starting next year, ending NBC’s 43-year run broadcasting the Grand Slam tournament.

ESPN and the All England Club announced a 12-year contract Tuesday that gives the cable network the U.S. TV rights to all matches at Wimbledon. ESPN had owned the rights to extensively televise early rounds of Wimbledon since 2003, with NBC picking up coverage as the tournament progressed, culminating with the “Breakfast at Wimbledon” broadcasts of the finals.

ESPN networks will air the quarterfinals and semis live in all time zones, something NBC had been criticized for not doing. NBC would have started showing every match live starting in 2014 under its bid.

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