UK public-service broadcaster the BBC has held talks that could lead to its coverage of the Wimbledon tennis championships being shared with a pay-television broadcaster, according to multiple reports.
BT Sport, which wants to boost its rights portfolio and has rights to the Women’s Tennis Association Tour, is the most likely pay-television broadcaster to acquire the rights, according to The Times newspaper.
Under the proposed changes, the BBC would reportedly only have live rights for the finals weekend and free-to-air highlights of the remainder of the tournament, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The BBC has been the exclusive UK rights-holder of the tournament for nearly 80 years, and its current deal expires after the 2017 edition.
The BBC already shares coverage of the FA Cup domestic football competition with BT Sport, and is reported to be happy with sharing coverage of the Formula One motor-racing championship with pay-television broadcaster Sky.