BBC spokesman forced to defend controversial Wimbledon decision days after Emma Raducanu snub
The BBC has relocated its flagship Today at Wimbledon programme from its traditional prime time slot to 11:55pm, sparking criticism from tennis fans.
The highlights show, which has typically aired at 8pm or 9pm on BBC Two, will now occupy the late-night schedule permanently.
According to the Telegraph, the programme has found a new permanent home in the 11:55pm slot.
The corporation’s decision means that Monday’s former 8pm-10:30pm window will instead feature repeats of Your Garden Made Perfect, The Pembrokeshire Coast: A Wild Year, and Upstart Crow.
A BBC spokesman defended the move, stating that Today at Wimbledon would continue to be available at its traditional time on iPlayer, whilst referring to the television broadcast as a “repeat”.
They said: “Live Wimbledon coverage is scheduled to air on BBC One or BBC Two until 10pm in the first week, and until 9pm from the second week, when matches typically finish earlier.
“We wouldn’t show highlights on another channel during live play, so Today at Wimbledon will be available on BBC iPlayer and scheduled on BBC Two later in the evening, depending on when play ends. It’s currently set for 8pm from Tuesday 8th to Friday 11th July, when earlier finishes are expected.”
The controversy follows the broadcaster’s recent failure to televise Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter’s doubles matches at Queen’s.
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The British duo’s quarter-final defeat to Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe went unaired, with BBC Two instead broadcasting two-year-old episodes of Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt.
Their earlier victory against Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu also failed to receive television coverage.
The majority of the match footage was not even accessible on the BBC website, despite the corporation receiving complaints about the absence of coverage for the British pair’s opening win.
The repeated omissions have intensified scrutiny of the BBC’s tennis broadcasting decisions ahead of Wimbledon.
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The scheduling change will particularly affect viewers in remote areas who lack access to iPlayer or reliable internet connections. For many fans, Today at Wimbledon has served as their sole means of catching up on the day’s action at SW19.
The move to the near-midnight slot effectively excludes those unable to access the BBC’s digital platforms.
Traditional television viewers face the prospect of staying up until the early hours to watch highlights of matches that concluded many hours earlier.
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The timing of these coverage decisions is particularly significant with several British players poised to compete at Wimbledon.
Jack Draper has climbed the rankings following his performance at Queen’s and sits among the top four seeds, potentially securing a more favourable path to the semi-finals.
Raducanu returns as British No 1 and will seek to build momentum before her home supporters. The 2021 US Open champion has historically enjoyed substantial support at SW19.
Katie Boulter also enters the tournament as a genuine contender.
Raducanu has confirmed she will continue her coaching partnership with Mark Petchey, Andy Murray’s former coach, alongside childhood coach Nick Cavaday.