Exclusive: BBC makes late swoop for Open highlights deal July 15, 2025 The BBC has secured a last-minute deal to show evening highlights of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush this week. The R&A has agreed a new three-year deal with the BBC for highlights in a contract that also covers the Women’s Open, starting with the 2025 edition at Royal Porthcawl at the end of the [...]
I’ve experienced Gregg Wallace’s grim behaviour, but I blame his bosses too July 15, 2025 It shouldn’t have taken powerful “middle class women of a certain age” like Kirsty Wark and Aasmah Mir speaking up for BBC bosses to do something about Gregg Wallace, says Alys Denby I have met Gregg Wallace and, since he has retained lawyers, I’d probably better leave it there. Let’s just say his approaches had [...]
UK Athletics boosted by new five-year contract with BBC July 11, 2025 UK Athletics has achieved a significant boost by agreeing a new five-year deal for the BBC to show its flagship events on free-to-air TV. The agreement between the BBC and Athletic Ventures covers the annual London Athletics Meet, which takes place next weekend and features the likes of Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, and the national [...]
Hawk-Eye complaints at Wimbledon? You cannot be serious! July 10, 2025 Wimbledon’s Hawk-Eye controversies were human-made and technology’s role in refereeing sports will only grow, writes Ed Warner. In the chalk dust v Hawk-Eye battle there can only be one winner. Traditionalists may hanker after a Wimbledon of line judges, temper tantrums, smashed rackets and John McEnroe questioning the seriousness of the umpire but in tennis, [...]
Women’s Euro 2025 ads: Why ITV scores but BBC, Visa and Sports Direct miss July 5, 2025 It feels like there’s an unnecessary crux in women’s football as the Lionesses begin their title defence at the Euros. After the success of the last edition, the domestic game has gone gangbusters, with Arsenal selling out the Emirates for regular league games, an independent body being set up to run the WSL, and many [...]
BBC facing fight to retain £60m Wimbledon broadcast rights July 2, 2025 The BBC faces the prospect of having to significantly increase its rights fee to the All England Club to extend their exclusive coverage of Wimbledon beyond 2027 amid increased competition for tennis amongst broadcasters. While Wimbledon’s status as a Category A “crown jewel” event means live coverage has to remain available on free-to-air channels, the [...]
BBC-owned Inside the Factory maker rakes in millions July 1, 2025 Turnover has spiked at the production company behind the likes of Inside the Factory which was taken over by the BBC in 2022, it has been revealed. Voltage TV has posted a turnover of £14.2m for the 12 months to 31 March, 2025, up from the £8.9m it achieved in its prior financial year. New [...]
Sue Barker rebuffed approach from Sky Sports to front tennis coverage June 30, 2025 Tennis broadcasting stalwart Sue Barker has revealed she rebuffed an approach to work for Sky Sports as the former face of Wimbledon’s BBC coverage remains away from the cameras. The former French Open winner left the BBC in 2022 after a 30-year broadcasting career which included fronting the Wimbledon Championships and Queen’s, as well as [...]
Losses continue at maker of BBC Question Time as jobs shed June 17, 2025 Losses have continued at the production company behind the likes of Amazon’s UK Premier League coverage and Question Time for the BBC after its turnover was slashed by £70m over two years. Tinopolis Group has reported a pre-tax loss of £21.1m for the 12 months to 30 September, 2024, having also posted a loss of [...]
Spending Review: Cuts to BBC put UK soft power at risk June 10, 2025 Spending review cuts to the BBC would erode the UK's soft power when it needs it most, writes Giles Kenningham.