History of BBC Sport in Timeline

BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC, offering national sports coverage across television, radio, and online platforms. It holds UK broadcasting rights for various sports, providing live coverage and analysis through programs like Match of the Day, Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, and Today at Wimbledon. The BBC Sport website and BBC Red Button service further supplement coverage with results and analysis.

1927: BBC Begins Broadcasting Wimbledon

Since 1927, the BBC has held the Wimbledon contract, making it the longest such contract in the world. The current contract lasts until 2024.

1938: BBC shows the Boat Race

In 1938, the BBC began showing the Boat Race. The BBC has shown the event since 1938, except for the period between 2005 and 2009, when ITV had the coverage rights.

1954: Creation of BBC Sports Personality of the Year award

In 1954, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award was created.

1954: BBC Begins Broadcasting Commonwealth Games

Since 1954, the BBC has shown coverage of the Commonwealth Games.

1960: BBC Begins Broadcasting Summer Olympics

Since 1960, the BBC has shown live coverage of every Summer Olympics, holding the exclusive terrestrial rights.

1970: BBC Airs Extensive Live Coverage of Commonwealth Games

Since 1970, the BBC has aired extensive live coverage of the Commonwealth Games, made possible by technological advancements.

1978: BBC Show BDO World Darts Championships Since Inception

Since its inception in 1978, the BBC had shown the BDO World Darts Championships.

1979: BBC Begins Coverage of Queen's Club Championships

In 1979, the BBC began covering the AEGON Championships from Queen's Club, and they have a contract in place until 2024.

1981: BBC Holds Live Rights to Ryder Cup

From 1981, the corporation held the live rights to Ryder Cup.

April 1985: World Snooker Championship Final

On 29 April 1985, the World Snooker Championship final between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor attracted the largest-ever audience for a BBC Two programme, pulling in 18.5 million viewers at the climax of the match.

1988: BBC Sport Brand Launch

In 1988, the BBC began branding its sports coverage as 'BBC Sport' for the Summer Olympics in Seoul. The introduction featured an animation of a globe with four colored rings.

1993: BBC's Live Rights to Ryder Cup Ends

Until 1993, the corporation held the live rights to Ryder Cup.

1997: BBC Sport Online Launch

In 1997, with the launch of the BBC News website, sport was included in the BBC's online presence for the first time, marking a significant expansion of BBC Sport's reach.

1997: BBC Shows Highlights of Ryder Cup

Since 1997, the BBC also shows highlights of the Ryder Cup.

2000: Website launched

In approximately 2000, the BBC Sport website was launched.

2003: Website relaunched

In 2003, the BBC Sport website was relaunched to accommodate bigger screen sizes and to parallel the relaunched BBC News website.

2004: BBC lost rights to Boat Race after 2004 event

In 2004, the BBC lost the rights to show the Boat Race, ending Barry Davies' tenure as commentator.

2005: ITV shows the Boat Race

In 2005, ITV began showing the Boat Race. ITV showed the event between 2005 and 2009.

May 2007: BBC Sport Relocation Approved

In May 2007, the BBC Trust approved plans for BBC Sport and other departments to move to MediaCityUK in Salford, marking a major decentralization from London and investment in the north of England.

2009: BBC Covers ATP World Tour Finals

In 2009, the BBC began covering the ATP World Tour Finals, holding exclusive free-to-air TV rights for 8 singles matches.

2009: BBC regains rights to the Boat Race

In 2009, the BBC regained the rights to show the Boat Race, after ITV's coverage between 2005 and 2009.

May 2011: Closure of 606 forum

On 31 May 2011, the 606 forum was closed as part of budget reductions at BBC Online.

2011: BBC Covers ATP World Tour Finals

In 2011, the BBC covered the ATP World Tour Finals.

2011: BBC Sport Begins Move to MediaCityUK

In late 2011, BBC Sport gradually began its move into Quay House, MediaCityUK in Salford.

2011: BBC Sport hosted an online sports forum entitled 606

Until 2011, the BBC Sport website hosted an online sports forum entitled 606.

February 2012: Current website look implemented

In February 2012, the current look of the BBC Sport website was implemented, featuring the bold colour scheme of the logo and a new horizontal navigation bar.

March 2012: First Broadcast from New BBC Sport Centre

On 5 March 2012, the first sports bulletins were broadcast from the new BBC Sport Centre at Quay House, MediaCityUK.

2012: BBC Coverage of London Olympics

For the 2012 Olympics in London, the BBC had three stations showing live coverage of the games: BBC One, BBC Three, and BBC Two.

2012: Andrew Cotter was not the commentator

In 2012, Andrew Cotter was not the commentator for the Boat Race coverage.

2012: BBC Coverage of ATP World Tour Finals Extended

In 2012, the BBC extended its coverage of the ATP World Tour Finals.

January 2013: BBC Sport app launched on iOS

In January 2013, the BBC Sport app was launched on the iOS app store.

2013: BBC Coverage of ATP World Tour Finals Extended Again

In 2013, the BBC extended its coverage of the ATP World Tour Finals through to 2015.

2015: "Wimbledon 2day" Programme Renamed and Reformed

In 2015, Clare Balding replaced John Inverdale as presenter of highlights programme, Today at Wimbledon, which was renamed "Wimbledon 2day" with a new lighthearted magazine format.

2015: BBC Coverage of ATP World Tour Finals

In 2015, the BBC covered the ATP World Tour Finals.

2015: BBC's Extensive Coverage of The Open Championships

Until 2015, the BBC's coverage of The Open Championships was extensive, with live coverage broadcast uninterrupted on BBC Two.

February 2016: BBC Covers PDC Champions League of Darts

In February 2016, it was announced that the BBC would cover the inaugural PDC Champions League of Darts, and as a result, would no longer show the BDO World Darts Championships.

2016: BBC Coverage of ATP World Tour Finals Extended

In 2016, the BBC extended its coverage of the ATP World Tour Finals for another 2 years.

2016: Wimbledon 2day Format Abandoned

In 2016, the lighthearted magazine format of the "Wimbledon 2day" programme was abandoned after only one year.

2016: Sky Sports Gains Exclusive Rights to The Open

Since 2016, Sky Sports has exclusive UK rights to The Open, with the BBC showing a two-hour highlights programme every night.

June 2017: Live Cricket Returns to BBC TV

On 30 June 2017, it was announced that live cricket would return to BBC TV for the first time in 21 years. The BBC acquired rights to highlights of England's home Tests, ODIs, and T20Is until 2028, and live broadcasts of matches from The Hundred.

2017: New On-Air Identity Launched

In 2017, BBC Sport launched a new on-air identity and became the first BBC entity to use the broadcaster's new corporate typeface.

2017: BBC Deal Announced For ATP World Tour Finals

In 2017, another deal was announced for the BBC's coverage of the ATP World Tour Finals, running until 2020.

2017: BBC Shows PGA Championship

In 2017, the BBC also showed all four days of the PGA Championship live.

2018: BBC Sub-Licensing Agreement with Discovery

Beginning at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the BBC entered into sub-licensing agreements with Discovery Communications, to sub-license exclusive pay television rights.

2018: Wimbledon Matches Broadcast in 4K UHD via iPlayer

Following a trial at the 2018 World Cup, the BBC broadcast all Centre Court matches from the 2018 Wimbledon Championships in 4K UHD via iPlayer.

2018: World Cup Broadcasts in 4K UHD and VR

In 2018, the BBC aired all of its matches from the FIFA World Cup in 4K UHD and VR to a limited number of viewers, depending on bandwidth availability.

2019: BBC No Longer Holds Live Golf Rights

Until 2019, the BBC broadcast live coverage of Saturday and Sunday's play in the US Masters, and highlights of Thursday and Friday's play.

August 2020: First Live Cricket Broadcast in 21 Years

On 30 August 2020, the BBC broadcast the second England vs Pakistan Twenty20 International, marking its first live cricket broadcast in 21 years.

2020: Sky Sports Gains Exclusive Live Coverage of The Masters

From 2020, Sky Sports has exclusive live coverage of all four rounds of The Masters.

2020: Smart TV app retired

In 2020, the BBC Sport Smart TV app was retired, with most video content moved to the iPlayer Smart TV app.

2020: End of BBC Coverage Deal for ATP World Tour Finals

In 2020, the BBC's coverage deal for the ATP World Tour Finals ended, with Sky Sports also showing matches.

2021: BBC Radio Wimbledon Coverage

In 2021, BBC Radio covered the Wimbledon tournament on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, hosted by Gigi Salmon and Tony Livesey with expert analysis from several commentators.

2021: BBC Sub-Licenses Pay TV Rights to Discovery

In 2021, the BBC sub-licenses exclusive pay television rights to the Games to Discovery.

2021: Wimbledon Commentators and Reporters

In 2021, the commentators for the Wimbledon tournament included names such as Chris Bradnam, James Burridge, Andrew Castle, and Alison Mitchell. Co-commentators included Tracy Austin, Marion Bartoli, Boris Becker and Martina Navratilova. Reporters included Lee McKenzie and John Inverdale.

2022: Daily Highlights of The Masters Aired on BBC Two

Daily highlights of The Masters aired on BBC Two up to and including 2022.

2022: BBC Sub-Licenses Terrestrial Rights from Discovery

In 2022, Discovery will sub-license terrestrial rights to the Games to the BBC.

2024: BBC Broadcasts Super League Matches

As of the 2024 season, the BBC broadcasts 10 live Super League matches on its terrestrial channels, with an additional 5 matches on the iPlayer. The BBC also broadcasts two Challenge Cup Quarter Finals, both Semi Finals, and the Cup Final on its terrestrial channels, the latter of which is an OFCOM Category A event.

2024: BBC Showed Live T20 Internationals

Between 2020 and 2024, the BBC showed live coverage of two England men's and two England women's T20 internationals on an annual basis.

2024: BBC Sub-Licenses Terrestrial Rights from Discovery

In 2024, Discovery will sub-license terrestrial rights to the Games to the BBC.

2024: End of Current Wimbledon Contract

In 2024, the current Wimbledon contract held by BBC lasts until this year, making it the longest such contract in the world.

2024: End of Current Queen's Club Championships Contract

In 2024, the current contract in place for BBC coverage of the AEGON Championships from Queen's Club lasts until this year.

October 2025: Coverage from the 2026 event will move to Channel 4

In October 2025, it was announced that coverage from the 2026 event will move to Channel 4.

December 2025: TNT Sports Outbids BBC for Commonwealth Games

In December 2025, it was announced that TNT Sports had outbid the BBC to be the broadcaster of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

2026: BBC's Rights to Olympics as Part of Joint Deal

From 2026 onwards, the BBC has rights to the Olympics as part of the joint deal between the European Broadcasting Union and Warner Bros. Discovery.

2026: TNT Sports to Broadcast Commonwealth Games

In 2026, TNT Sports will be the broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games, having outbid the BBC. However it remains possible that the BBC may offer limited coverage.

2026: Coverage moves to Channel 4

In 2026, coverage of the event will move to Channel 4.

2026: FA Cup Broadcast Rights Extended

In 2026, the BBC will continue to broadcast live coverage of the FA Cup, as they hold the rights until this year.

2028: BBC Cricket Rights End Date

In 2028, the BBC has rights to highlights of all England's home Tests, ODIs and T20Is until this year.

2028: Test Match Special Live commentary until 2028

Until 2028, Test Match Special will provide Live commentary on all England home Test, ODI and T20 matches, as well as commentaries on England overseas tours and World Cup matches.