Wimbledon fear paying multi-million pound BBC rebate after Djokovic and Murray complaints
Wimbledon chiefs are set to reject pleas from Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray to make changes to the schedule for 2024 as the move could cost several millions of pounds in rebates. Several players have been left unhappy with the timings of some fixtures at this year’s tournament, with Djokovic and Murray the most vocal of those to speak up, but the threat of a huge payout to TV companies using a rebate system is likely to scupper any hopes of a revised schedule for next year.
Djokovic and Murray are just two of several big names to call for earlier starts to ensure that matches are not unnecessarily carried through to next day. Wimbledon’s 11pm curfew prohibits play from continuing overnight, unlike at the US Open where matches often continue until the early hours, and Djokovic thinks that matches should begin at midday.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) maintain control over the schedule for the two-week long tournament. But the start times are embedded into TV contracts and would therefore need to be renegotiated if they want play to commence at an earlier time on the showcourts.
That could cost organisers millions in a ‘rebate’ that would be paid out to broadcasters who ‘could demand’ payments if playing times are altered, according to the Daily Mail.
