BBC Faces Backlash Over Djokovic’s Wimbledon Coverage on iPlayer
The BBC is currently facing criticism from frustrated viewers who struggled to watch Novak Djokovic during his recent quarter-final match at Wimbledon on iPlayer. The legendary 38-year-old tennis star took to Centre Court to compete against Flavio Cobolli, while Jannik Sinner battled Ben Shelton on Court One simultaneously.
While Sinner’s match went off without a hitch, viewers hoping to catch Djokovic in action were met with frustrating technical difficulties. Many fans reported that the iPlayer continuously redirected them to the Sinner match, despite their repeated attempts to access Djokovic’s game.
One disappointed viewer expressed their concerns on social media, stating, "Dear @BBCiPlayer, please fix your viewing options ASAP. We can’t select Cobolli vs. Djokovic on Centre Court." Another user chimed in, "Could whoever is on the afternoon shift at BBC iPlayer please wake up? Clicking on the Djokovic match takes you straight to the Sinner game! Please fix it!"
Frustration continued to mount, with one fan lamenting, "Just tried to get the Djokovic game on iPlayer, and it’s only showing the Sinner/Shelton match when I select Djokovic! This is unacceptable!" Another viewer expressed their anger: "I can’t seem to find the Djokovic match on iPlayer! I click it, and it brings me to the Sinner match! Come on, BBC, sort it out!"
Amid the chaos, one viewer managed to find a workaround, sharing, "For anyone frustrated with @BBCSport’s coverage of @Wimbledon, the link for Djokovic at the top of iPlayer bizarrely takes you to the Sinner match. However, there’s a second link for Djokovic further down the page." They concluded, "It’s really time to give #Wimbledon coverage to someone more competent."
While the match audio was still accessible, viewers were met with a blank screen displaying an empty room, with fans milling about in the background. This awkward situation persisted for several minutes before another feed switched to Henman Hill, where excited fans were watching the match on a big screen.
Finally, after a tense delay of over five minutes, the broadcast returned to Djokovic’s match as BBC commentators offered apologies for the technical difficulties. One tennis fan vented their frustration on social media, remarking, "This year’s coverage is a complete shambles! Why are we watching the crowd and a blue screen instead of the Djokovic match?"
As fans continue to express their disappointment over the BBC’s handling of Wimbledon coverage, it raises questions about the effectiveness of their broadcasting team. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story!
