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 [...]
Global sports market forecast to be worth $600bn by 2030 July 1, 2025 Growth of the global sports market is forecast to accelerate, making it worth $600bn (£438bn) by 2030, according to a report published today by consultancy Kearney. The market has grown an average of five per cent annually since 2020 but that rate is expected to increase to eight per cent, the report says. “Sport is [...]
The Wimbledon wine challenge: Top desserts to pair with wine July 1, 2025 Few British Summer events can compete with the glamour and sophistication of Wimbledon. Whether jostling for tickets to the courts or watching on a big screen, families from around the country will soon be agog to see if Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu can give us something to celebrate. I decided to visit three esteemed [...]
Premier League kicks off AI era with five-year Microsoft deal July 1, 2025 The Premier League has inked a five-year deal with Microsoft to overhaul how fans engage with the game. But the tie-up also tightens Big Tech’s grip on British sport, reigniting scrutiny over data use and monetisation. Under the agreement, Microsoft will become the League’s official cloud and AI partner, with its Copilot technology powering a [...]
London City Lionesses score Nike kit deal following promotion to WSL July 1, 2025 London City Lionesses have secured a high-profile kit deal with Nike following their promotion to the Women’s Super League (WSL) for the first time. The trailblazing club – owned by American Michele Kang – are the only side in the WSL to be fully independent, with no ties to a men’s professional team in the [...]
E1 Series in €20m fundraise as it plots expansion and London race July 1, 2025 Celebrity-backed electric powerboating series E1 is seeking around €20m (£17m) from a fresh round of fundraising as it this week steps up plans to secure a race in London. E1 has engaged Rothschild and Co to seek an investor to inject capital, which bosses have earmarked for a second fleet of boats and commercial and [...]
West Ham announce betting sponsor year before gambling ban July 1, 2025 West Ham United has announced a sponsorship deal with bookmaker Boyle Sports one year out from a voluntary Premier League gambling ban. Clubs in England’s top flight have agreed to scrapping gambling brands as front-of-shirt sponsors from the 2026-27 season. Irish bookies Boyle Sports will replace Betway at the London Stadium. The multi-year deal will [...]
Surj Sports chief: Saudi parent PIF, investing and league focus July 1, 2025 Chief executive of Dazn investors Surj Sports Investments Danny Townsend discusses the state of the changing landscape. When Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund purchased Premier League club Newcastle United in 2021, Middle Eastern sports spending was thrust into the voyeuristic forefront of executive and fan consciousness. Since then Saudi Arabia has invested in a multitude [...]
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 [...]
Channel 4 bag 3.7m viewers for England U-21 Euros triumph June 30, 2025 England’s U-21 European Championship triumph against Germany was watched by a peak 3.7m on Saturday evening. The Channel 4 broadcast on Saturday night claimed 37 per cent of all viewers watching TV at the time England beat Germany 3-2 in Slovakia. Harvey Elliott and Omari Hutchinson scored England’s normal time goals before Nelson Weiper and [...]