SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Liverpool vs. Wolves: 13 hrs 7 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

BBC chief wants more night matches, less grunting at Wimbledon

:Headline: BBC chief wants more night matches, less grunting at Wimbledon: ID:47011: from db_amp
The director of BBC Sport admits that the broadcaster is keen for more night matches and less grunting from the players at future Wimbledon tournaments.
BBC chief reveals Wimbledon wishes

Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater has admitted that she would like to see more night matches during Wimbledon, as well as less grunting from the players.

With the retractable roof now available on Centre Court, some games went on until around 11pm at this year's tournament.

Those matches have proved to be successful in terms of audience numbers and as a result Slater is planning to hold talks with officials at SW19 regarding the possibility of even more night-time encounters.

"It's been very successful," Slater told Bloomberg. "Inevitably, when play moves into the peak evening, audiences are higher.

"It is safe to say that of course we as a broadcaster would love more tennis, and for that tennis to extend, but we are very aware there are constraints on the club.

"We have conversations with the All England Club, and they evolve their strategy going forward."

Meanwhile, grunting is something that the International Tennis Federation recently confirmed that they were keen to drive out of the women's game.

Discussing the issue, Slater admitted that the shrieking is something that has been known to put off viewers.

"It is a shame, and some of our audience clearly don't like that," she added. "You want to see women athletes achieving the very highest standards of play.

"That is something that the governing bodies have got to work with the players on, wanting to be respectful of those players' desire to play the game to their very maximum.

"But equally, I think it's very important both for the crowd and the TV audiences that it doesn't become too distracting."

The BBC recently extended its contract to screen Wimbledon until 2017.

amp_article__47011 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2012-09-26 16:55:27:
html db last update - 2012-09-26 16:55:27 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Barbara Slater

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24176158233557
2Arsenal25158251222953
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest25145641291247
4Manchester CityMan City25135752351744
5Bournemouth25127644291543
6Chelsea25127647341343
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2512584233941
8Fulham2510963833539
9Aston Villa2510873538-338
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2591063838037
11Brentford25104114342134
12Crystal Palace257992932-330
13Everton257992731-430
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2576122947-1827
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Ipswich TownIpswich2538142350-2717
19Leicester CityLeicester2545162555-3017
20Southampton2523201957-389
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .