The sports broadcasting wing of BBC, BBC Sport has obtained a three-year rights extension with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) that will keep airing the landmark HSBC Championships live on BBC TV, radio, and digital services from The Queen’s Club.
For the first time in almost 50 years, the event this year features a women’s WTA 500 tournament, which will be held on grass courts the week before the ATP 500.
The women’s event will include current British number one Katie Boulter and former US Open winner Emma Raducanu, while the men’s event will feature Jack Draper, the current British number one, and 2024 Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Audiences can look forward to a fortnight of Queen’s live on BBC TV and iPlayer, followed by the iconic Wimbledon Championships in two weeks. BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds will be offering live coverage and discussion during the Queen’s Fortnight.
As part of the three-year arrangement, the LTA’s events in Eastbourne and Nottingham will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, bringing the nation together through stories of local talent and sports achievement.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said, “The grass court season is synonymous with British summer, and for BBC Sport it marks the start of a huge summer of women’s sporting events, kicking off with the women’s tournament at Queen’s. Continuing our partnership with the LTA for a further three years including the streaming of Eastbourne and Nottingham ensures world-class tennis remains free-to-air for audiences.”
Chris Pollard, LTA Managing Director of Commercial & Operations, commented, “The LTA is committed to opening up tennis to the largest possible audience across Britain, and the BBC plays a vital role in helping us achieve this. This year promises to be the LTA’s best grass court season yet, with women and men competing in all our events for the very first time. This partnership will enable people right across the country to watch British stars and top-ranked international players on free-to-air platforms across three weeks of inspiring, world-class tennis.”
The BBC’s complete broadcast plans for TV and radio, comprising presenters, experts, and commentary lineups for the British grass court tennis season, will be announced in due time.
BBC Sport’s broad rights portfolio involves this summer’s Wimbledon Championships, Women’s UEFA EURO 2025, and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, as well as the Olympic Games, FA Cup, UEFA EURO 2028, FIFA World Cups, Match of the Day (Premier League and UEFA Champions League highlights), Six Nations, and Rugby Super League.