BBC viewers up in arms AGAIN after Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter complaints
The BBC opted to broadcast vintage property and antiques programmes rather than showcase British tennis stars Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter competing in their doubles quarter-final at Queen’s on Wednesday.
Whilst the British duo battled on court at noon, BBC One aired a two-year-old episode of Homes Under The Hammer.
This was followed by an edition of Bargain Hunt from the same year, leaving tennis fans enraged.
The partnership, dubbed ‘Boultercanu’, ultimately fell to Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe 6-2, 7-5.
Their match was not initially available on the corporation’s website, despite criticism for similar treatment of their opening victory on Monday.
BBC Two was showing Politics Live, including reaction to the Government’s spending review, whilst the British pair competed.
JUST IN: Luke Humphries sends clear message to ‘hostile’ German crowd ahead of World Cup of Darts
The match was initially available to watch on the Tennis Channel website without any commentary.
Coverage eventually appeared on BBC iPlayer, but only well into the second set.
This marked the second time this week that the corporation had failed to provide timely coverage of Raducanu and Boulter’s doubles campaign.
The BBC’s scheduled coverage of Wednesday’s action on BBC Two was not due to begin until 2pm, two hours after the quarter-final had commenced.
Monday’s opening match against Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu, which Raducanu and Boulter won 6-4, 6-2, received similarly limited coverage.
The match featured only briefly as part of BBC Two’s coverage before cutting back to Sonay Kartal’s singles encounter.
READ MORE: Roy Keane slams ‘lazy’ England star who ‘can’t be bothered’ after dreadful Senegal defeat
The BBC had chosen to show live coverage of British No 3 Kartal’s victory against Daria Kasatkina instead of the high-profile doubles partnership.
Kartal’s match was available on iPlayer alongside highlights of Czech player Petra Kvitova’s three-set defeat by Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The corporation’s programming decisions have drawn complaints from viewers eager to watch the British stars compete together at Queen’s.
The Lawn Tennis Association could not move the match to the main arena due to contractual obligations with the Women’s Tennis Association.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s ‘make-or-break’ marriage moment as they prepare to celebrate 17th anniversaryMike Tyson, 58, discusses doing ‘a lot of drugs’ and gives update on boxing futureInside Gary Lineker’s first marriage to Michelle Cockayne that ended in divorce amid ‘cheating’ rumours
The WTA mandates that four singles matches are shown on Centre Court per day to satisfy its standing as international rights holders.
When approached about Monday’s match, the BBC stated: “Our TV coverage at Queens covers one court with one feed and we were broadcasting GB’s Sonay Kartal’s Centre Court singles match on BBC Two.”
The corporation added: “We provided regular updates on Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter’s doubles match on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website where fans can enjoy all the stories that define this historic tournament.”