As we begin the tennis fortnight for The Championships Wimbledon, we note that this year’s coverage will be different than last year when ESPN began a 12 year contract with the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at SW19 in London.

With the World Cup running concurrent with Wimby, ESPN has to do some juggling especially when two networks are airing soccer matches simultaneously in the 11:30 a.m. ET and 3:30 p.m. windows. ESPNews will be utilized extensively in the first four days of the tournament.

But at the beginning of each day starting today and running through Thursday, matches will be seen on the ESPN Mothership from 7 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ESPNews will then its first taste of Wimbledon at 11:30 a.m. until the day’s conclusion about 4 p.m. ESPN2 returns after airing the World Cup at 2 p.m. and will simulcast with ESPNews until the next World Cup window at 3:30 p.m. ESPNews will continue with its coverage until the end of the day.

So this might lead to a little confusion especially when some cable systems put ESPNews in a high cable channel position and not combine it with ESPN and ESPN2.

Here’s a table to show you what will happen in the first week of the fabled fortnight:

Date Time (ET) Event Network
   
Mon, June 23 – Thur, June 26 7 – 11:30 a.m. Early Round Action ESPN
  11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Early Round Action ESPNEWS
  2 – 3:30 p.m. Early Round Action ESPN2 (simulcast of ESPNEWS)
Fri, June 27 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Early Round Action ESPN
Sat, June 28 7 – 8 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN
  8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Early Round Action ESPN

Of course, if you want to avoid all of the channel switching, ESPN will show continuous coverage online through ESPN3 (provided your cable provider has an agreement with ESPN) and you’ll be able to watch on your mobile device, tablet or computer.

Now what about the second week of coverage when the Round of 16 and quarterfinals will have matches run simultaneously? For Monday, June 30 through Wednesday, July 2, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNews will once again air the action especially when the World Cup goes to its Knockout Round.

ESPN will begin the Round of 16 proceedings on Monday, June 30 at 7 a.m. ET. ESPNews will then pick up for the Mothership at 11:30 a.m. ESPN2 picks up the action from Centre Court at 8 a.m. and will run until the end of the day at 4 p.m.

On Tuesday, July 1, ESPN2 will air the women’s quarters from Centre Court at 8 a.m. ET. ESPN will carry the action from Court One starting at 8 a.m. ESPNews takes over for ESPN at 11:30 a.m.

And on Wednesday, July 2 for the men’s quarters and a rest day for the World Cup, ESPN will air the matches from Centre Court starting at 8 a.m. ESPN2 will show the matches from Court One.

Things settle down on Thursday, July 2 all the way through Finals Weekend as ESPN airs all of the matches live. Once again, we provide a table for you.

Date Time (ET) Event Network
Mon, June 30 7 – 11:30 a.m. Round of 16 ESPN
  8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Round of 16, Centre Court ESPN2
  11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Round of 16 ESPNEWS
Tue, July 1 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ladies’ Quarterfinals,  Centre Court ESPN2
  8 – 11:30 a.m. Ladies’ Quarterfinals, Court One ESPN
  11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Ladies’ Quarterfinals, Court One ESPNEWS
Wed, July 2 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gentlemen’s Quarterfinals, Centre Court ESPN
  8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Gentlemen’s Quarterfinals,Court One ESPN2
Thur, July 3 7 – 8 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN
  8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Ladies’ Semifinals ESPN
Fri, July 4 7 – 8 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN
  8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Gentlemen’s Semifinals ESPN
Sat, July 5 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN
  9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Ladies’ Final ESPN
Sun, July 6 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Breakfast at Wimbledon ESPN
  9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gentlemen’s Final ESPN
  3 – 6 p.m. Gentlemen’s Final ABC

If you’re wondering about ABC, it will carry taped highlights of the first week on Sunday, June 29 at 3 p.m. ET and then air replays of the women’s and men’s finals on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6 at 3 p.m. ET respectively.

So hopefully, you won’t get confused over the shuffling of the tournament throughout fortnight.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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