The Championships, Wimbledon and Tencent agree digital rights deal for China mainland
Commencing this year, Tencent has obtained the exclusive new media broadcasting rights for The Championships, Wimbledon in China, in a deal facilitated by IMG. During a three-year period, Tencent will bring the 2025-2027 Championships to Chinese fans through its digital media and social platforms, including Tencent Video, Tencent Sports, WeChat, Tencent News, qq.com, and QQ. Chinese audiences will be able to watch live broadcasts and replays on various Tencent platforms, along with a wealth of additional content such as match replays, on-demand viewing and highlights.
Paul Davies, associate director of broadcast, production and media rights at the All England Club, which stages The Championships, said: “We are delighted to be working with Tencent to showcase all the thrilling action from Wimbledon to tennis fans in China. Led by Olympic gold medalist and Grand Slam finalist Zheng Qinwen, China has a host of rising tennis talent looking to make their mark on tour. Whether it is live broadcast, match replays, highlights or features, Tencent’s multimedia platforms will ensure fans won’t miss a moment of their favourite players at Wimbledon.”
Jeff Han, VP of Tencent Online Video, said: “An increasing number of people in China are paying attention to and participating in tennis. The cooperation between the All England Club and Tencent will help drive a new wave of tennis enthusiasm. We hope that through the broadcast of Wimbledon and high-quality content, more users will be able to experience the charm of this century-old tournament up close.”
This collaboration comes at a time when the popularity of tennis is surging in the Chinese market. Following Zheng Qinwen’s victory in the women’s singles gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, public interest and affection for tennis have reached new heights, with increased attention on international top-tier Grand Slam events. Meanwhile, a new generation of Chinese tennis players, including Shang Juncheng, Zhang Zhizhen, and Wang Xinyu, is rising, and their performances are also worthy of attention.
According to statistics, China currently ranks second in the world in terms of the number of people participating in tennis. The viewership of key tennis events and the overall participation rate are steadily increasing, making tennis a part of the lifestyle for more ordinary people. In the future, Tencent will continue to leverage innovative technology and its experience and solutions in consumer business operations to expand the community of Wimbledon fans in China, providing fans with more personalised experiences and high-quality services.