The BBC faced criticism from Wimbledon viewers for airing the same match on terrestrial channels while missing Novak Djokovic’s initial games.
Djokovic’s first six games against Jacob Fearnley weren’t broadcast on BBC One or Two, as priority was given to the British contest between Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart.
After the regional news on BBC One, both channels briefly showed the Boulter-Dart match simultaneously for about five minutes. Coverage was then switched to show Boulter on BBC One and Djokovic on BBC Two, though some viewers expressed dissatisfaction.
Critics took to social media swiftly, with one remarking, “BBC 1 and 2 both showing the exact same WTA match… I want to see Djokovic.”
When BBC Two’s coverage of Djokovic’s match began, the first set was tied at 3-3. A BBC source defended the decision, stating that standard procedures were followed to overlap matches across both channels briefly to ensure viewers didn’t miss crucial moments.
Both matches were available uninterrupted on BBC iPlayer for viewers to choose from. Boulter was on the verge of winning the first set around 1:45 pm, coinciding with the switch from BBC Two to BBC One. Editors opted to extend the overlap slightly longer than usual to avoid missing any significant moments.
With the General Election polls now open and campaigning concluded, the BBC anticipated high viewership on a busy day of British action at Wimbledon.
Later in the day, Andy Murray was set to take the court after Britain’s rising stars competed for dominance in highly anticipated matches. Murray, along with his brother Jamie, was scheduled to begin their doubles campaign on Centre Court in what promised to be an emotional evening.
Before their match, Britain’s top-ranked singles players in both men’s and women’s categories were facing off. This marked the Murray brothers’ first appearance together at a grand slam since their successful Davis Cup campaign in 2015, where they triumphed in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final matches for Great Britain.
Their opponents in the upcoming clash were the Australian pair Rinky Hijikata and John Peers. The Murrays anticipated enthusiastic support from the Centre Court crowd as Andy Murray’s Wimbledon journey approached its conclusion.