Wimbledon available on BBC iPlayer

The BBC has decided to make key matches from the 2008 Wimbledon tennis tournament available on its iPlayer service, and many of the matches will be available in high definition.

The coverage will be available for seven days after the match is played, to iPlayer users in the UK only.

The BBC also announced that it has secured a deal with event organiser, The All England Club, to broadcast the tournament until 2014. This year’s event begins on 23 June 2008.

The Wimbledon contract follows the BBC’s announcement earlier this month, that it has regained the television rights to Formula One after ITV decided not to continue its coverage of the event after the end of the season.

The BBC will provide Forumula One coverage on BBC TV, radio and the internet, including its iPlayer service.

The deals indicate the importance that the BBC is attaching to its new media offerings.