Wimbledon’s women were celebrated with bigger and better coverage by the BBC this year, just three years after the broadcaster was accused of bias in its tennis reports.
A massive 78 per cent of the tournament’s highlights show was dedicated to the female players while entire segments were devoted to Serena Williams, in 2018.
There were 2 hours and 45 minutes of clips and commentary from women’s games, and 38 minutes dedicated to men’s matches on Today at Wimbledon, this weekend.
Angelique Kerber of Germany (R) embraces Serena Williams following their match. This year, the BBC’s Today at Wimbledon devoted a huge amount of coverage to women
The official reports were also accompanied by analysis, montages and sequences which celebrated the players of both sexes.
Just three years ago the BBC was accused of major bias as 75 per cent of coverage was dedicated to men’s matches.
The BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, investigated the claims after the 2015 tournament. And, while complaints were not upheld, bosses admitted to finding a ‘startling disparity’.
At the time it said: ‘Trustees were pleased to note the executive’s assurances that they would take the complainant’s research into consideration when planning coverage of Wimbledon 2016.’
This year saw a big change. During the highlights show, presented by Clare Balding 72 per cent of the content was solely about women, in the first week.
The Women’s Tennis Association told The Times it was proud to see its ‘amazing athletes well represented and celebrated’.
It was Serena Williams, who stole the show in the first week, with more than 50 per cent of in-depth analysis being on her – the winner of 23 Grand Slam tournaments.
There were 224 players but on the fifth show, all of the commentary based clips were on sisters Venus and Serena Williams.
The overall winner did not feature until the second week. Angelique Kerber, the 11th seed was shown on the show days after it began.
Wimbledon has frequently been at the centre of sexism calls.
Players have previously made demands for more equality on court.
And this year, in places, it seems changes were made.
Andy Murray joined their ranks last year when on the second Monday, all four men’s matches were scheduled for the main show courts but only two of four women’s matches.
Angelique Kerber of Germany poses after winning Wimbledon for the first time. She was not featured on the in depth coverage show until the second week
Novelist, campaigner and tennis fan Mark Leyland researched Wimbledon Centre Court action from 1993 to 2017 and found an average 60/40 split in favour of men’s matches shown on the main stage.
He said: ‘They persist in blaming the imbalance on the complexities of a system which has long since achieved equality at the other grand slam tournaments, an argument which defies all logic. But it may be felt that their actions, in scheduling more men’s than women’s matches on their main show courts every year for more than a quarter of a century, speak louder than their words.’
Wimbledon’s third day saw show courts filled with more women’s matches than men’s for the first time in 25 years.
Millions tuned in again to watch the tournament this year.
The BBC served 24.1 million stream requests during Wimbledon this year via BBC Sport and BBC iPlayer, making it the most streamed Wimbledon to date.
The BBC said: ‘The highlights show brings together the best tennis of the day and all decisions are editorially led.’
Novak Djokovic won at Wimbledon over the weekend. This year, the men’s matches took up less coverage by the BBC’s analysis show than the women’s
Angelique Kerber beat seven-time champion Serena Williams to win her first Wimbledon title.
For the men, Novak Djokovic earned his first Grand Slam title in more than two years by beating Kevin Anderson.