ESPN, Wimbledon reach coverage agreement

BRISTOL, Conn., April 18 (UPI) -- The ESPN U.S. cable sports network says it will televise matches at Wimbledon through the 2013 season.

The sides finalized terms of the six-year agreement Thursday at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Conn.

The network said coverage of the sport's third Grand Slam event annually will include ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPN International, ESPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPNDeportes.com and ESPN Mobile Properties, as well as rights to ESPN On Demand and interactive TV.

ESPN2 will televise 100 hours each year, including daylong live action, one women's and one men's semifinal match.

"Wimbledon is a special place in the sports world, and we are proud to extend and expand our terrific relationship with the All England Club," ESPN executive vice president John Skipper said in a statement. "We believe tennis fans will actively pursue and enjoy the offerings that this new agreement makes possible on ESPN's growing multimedia and wireless platforms."

ESPN also provides live coverage at the season's first Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne, each January.