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Enhanced broadcast agreement confirmed for British summer grass court events

Enhanced broadcast agreement confirmed for  British summer grass court events

We are excited to announce a comprehensive new broadcast agreement that will see the UK summer grass court events given the widest coverage to date on network television, streaming and digital platforms.

All the action will be available across multiple platforms after the BBC and Prime Video confirmed broadcast arrangements for this summer.

Tennis fans are set to enjoy a bumper summer on the British grass courts, with Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray, Cam Norrie and Alfie Hewett among the homegrown heroes taking on some of the biggest names on the ATP and WTA Tours.

Broadcast schedule

Murray’s first appearance at the Surbiton Trophy since 2004 will be screened live on the BBC’s digital platforms next week, with the former two-time Wimbledon champion starting his grass court campaign with an appearance in the ATP Challenger tournament.

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The British tennis summer will then roll onto the Rothesay Open Nottingham, where 2022 Madrid Open winner and world No.7 Ons Jabeur is on the entry list, with both Prime Video and the BBC (for the first time) broadcasting the WTA 250 event while the concurrent ATP Challenger tournament at the Nottingham Tennis Centre will also be on BBC digital platforms.

Birmingham and the Queen’s Club in London are then next stops on the calendar, with Prime Video and the BBC sharing co-exclusive rights to screen both tournaments. 

US Open champion Raducanu will lead an impressive cast list for the 40th anniversary edition of the Rothesay Classic Birmingham (a WTA 250 event), while British heroes Murray, Norrie, Dan Evans and Jack Draper will be joined by Carlos Alcaraz (ATP No.6) and defending champion Matteo Berrettini (ATP No.10) for the ATP 500 cinch Championships at the Queen’s Club in an action-packed week. 

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Our grass court tournaments will then conclude with the Rothesay International Eastbourne from June 18, where eight of the world’s top ten women will compete in a high-quality field for the WTA 500 event. 

The Devonshire Park courts in Eastbourne will also stage an ATP 250 tournament featuring British No.1 Norrie, defending champion Alex de Minaur and 2022 Indian Wells Masters champion, Taylor Fritz which will be exclusively on Prime Video, while the women’s action will be broadcast live on Prime Video and the BBC’s platforms, giving tennis fans the most comprehensive summer of coverage ever served up in Britain.

Richard Daish, LTA Marketing & Commercial Director said, “The LTA continues to open tennis up to new audiences and we have created more opportunities for UK based sports fans to engage in tennis this year. 

“With even more British stars competing across our events this year, we want as many fans as possible to enjoy a fantastic summer of tennis and be inspired by what they see.”

Director of BBC Sport, Barbara Slater said: “We are delighted to bring comprehensive coverage of an exciting summer of tennis to our audiences.

“We will once again cover the prestigious Queen’s and Eastbourne tournaments on BBC TV and online, as well as Emma Raducanu leading an impressive line-up in Birmingham and Andy Murray’s highly anticipated return to the Surbiton Trophy. Fans can follow all the action 24/7 across BBC TV and online.”

Alex Green, MD Live Sport, Prime Video Europe said, “We are delighted to be bringing Prime members an exciting summer of British tennis on Prime Video this year.

“These events are an important part of the tennis calendar featuring the best British players and they will only add to our existing coverage.”

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Formula 1: Three sprint events confirmed for 2022, with more points on offer

Formula 1: Three sprint events confirmed for 2022, with more points on offer

Sprint events will take place in Imola, Austria and Brazil – while the top eight finishers will all score points for the shortened race, which sets the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix

Last Updated: 14/02/22 6:02pm


Formula 1 will hold three sprint races this year after a compromise was found over money concerns, while the events will also offer more points.

A success last year in increasing action and excitement with a grid-setting short Saturday race, F1 had originally intended to double the amount of sprints to six in 2022, although the top teams were understood to have wanted an increase to the cost cap to facilitate the extra running.

Not willing to budge on its budget cap, F1 offered a compromise of three sprints – and that was approved ‘unanimously’ at the F1 Commission meeting on Monday.

The three sprint races will take place in Imola (April 23), Austria (July 9) and Brazil (November 12).

There will also be a change to the points-scoring system. Last year when the format was trialled, only the top three drivers scored points, with three points for the winner, two for second and one for third.

Craig Slater reports that the FIA are proposing 'structural changes' following their enquiry into the controversial ending to last season's Abu Dhabi GP.

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Craig Slater reports that the FIA are proposing ‘structural changes’ following their enquiry into the controversial ending to last season’s Abu Dhabi GP.

Craig Slater reports that the FIA are proposing ‘structural changes’ following their enquiry into the controversial ending to last season’s Abu Dhabi GP.

This season the winner of the shortened race – which determines the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix – will now receive eight points with seven for second and so on down to one point for eighth place.

Meanwhile, the FIA confirmed that no points will be awarded unless at least two laps have been completed without a safety car.

The new rule comes into force following last season’s two-lap, rain-hit Belgian GP which ran entirely behind the safety car.