Eurosport close to Wimbledon deal

Eurosport is reportedly closing in on a deal to share the BBC's rights to broadcast Wimbledon live this summer.

The two-week tournament is a listed event - meaning that it must be shown by a free-to-air broadcaster in the UK - and has aired on the BBC for more than 80 years.

The corporation is under severe pressure to cut costs, however, and has already surrendered the rights to The Open and Formula 1 in recent months.

According to Broadcast, the proposed deal would see BBC retain full rights to the tournament but would allow Eurosport to simulcast matches as well as broadcast nightly highlights.

The deal will run from this year until 2020 but still requires approval from telecomms regulator Ofcom before Wimbledon gets underway on June 27.

The arrangement will be the second collaboration between the BBC and Eurosport's owner Discovery, who recently signed an agreement to share coverage of the upcoming Olympics and Winter Olympic Games.