© AELTC

In 2007 The Championships were aired on 129 channels in 185 territories enabling 748.4 million TV households to watch the action, with 60% of coverage via free-to-air channels. The proportion of live coverage increased by 25% in 2007. Television coverage of The Championships was broadcast globally for 10,211 hours, the first time coverage levels have exceeded 10,000 hours in Championships’ history.

 Click here for a list of television broadcasters by country

The Championships were televised for the first time in 1937 when up to half an hour of play was transmitted by the BBC from the Centre Court. The very first colour television transmission in the UK in 1967 was a four-and-a-half hour programme presented from Centre Court on the first Saturday of The Championships.

Situated along the top of the Centre Court are commentary boxes for about 40 of the world's television networks, with several more positions for radio commentary boxes along the east side.

Overlooking the No.1 Court from the north end are 16 television and radio commentary boxes, while at ground level in the north-west corner are two BBC radio and television commentary boxes.

The BBC acts as host broadcaster for The Championships, simultaneously producing coverage from eight courts, including Centre and No.1 Court.

In 2008 the AELTC announced a new
five-year contract giving the BBC exclusive broadcast rights from 2010-2014 (inclusive).

The new BBC contract provides for key matches to be available via BBC iPlayer for up to seven days after broadcast, and also the opportunity to watch Wimbledon on mobile phones.

In the United Kingdom the BBC transmitted 160 hours of coverage on BBC 1 and BBC2, including a daily highlights programme in the evening. The men's final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2007 attracted a peak BBC audience of 7.3m

The BBC’s Interactive unit will continue to offer its successful, and extended, coverage of The Championships to its digital viewers.

The technology available allows for five simultaneous matches to be selected 24 hours a day, in addition to a range of interactive services including results, statistics, player biographies and the history of The Championships. It is possible that digital cable services will be able to transmit all Wimbledon courts in future.

Visit the website: www.bbc.co.uk/wimbledon