Fans slam ‘mind-boggling’ BBC as Novak Djokovic snubbed from live TV coverage for same match on two channels

BUNGLING BBC bosses managed to show the same Wimbledon match on BBC One AND BBC Two simultaneously.

And that meant Novak Djokovic was NOT live on terrestrial TV.

PA

Katie Boulter got double billing on BBC on Thursday lunchtime[/caption]

BBC

BBC bosses showed her match with Harriet Dart on BBC One and BBC Two[/caption]

Just before 2pm, both of the Beeb’s main channels were broadcasting live from No1 Court.

That was the Battle of Britain between Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart.

However, on Centre, Djokovic was taking on Edinburgh ace Jacob Fearnley – with viewers unable to catch the action on TV.

Eventually, the BBC twigged on their blunder and switched the BBC Two coverage to the seven-time champion on Centre as he breached the strict dress code protocol again – by which time he was 20 minutes into his match.

But tennis fans lambasted the broadcaster as their patience ran thin.

One said: “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. Novak Djokovic the seven-time champion who’s currently playing on Centre Court and the match is nowhere to be seen. Mind-boggling.”

Another wrote: “On BBC 1 and 2 just now it’s the same Wimbledon match. They even missed the start of Jacob Fearnley v Djokovic. Coverage is all over the place.”

A third added: “@BBCSport why has BBC 1 and 2 got the same match on at Wimbledon?”

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A fourth typed: “BBC 1 and 2 both showing the same exact WTA match… I WANT TO SEE DJOKOVIC.”

A fifth commented: “Having the Boulter game on BBC 1 and 2 when you have Djokovic playing a Brit and Hurkacz in a big fight against Fils is actually a joke.”

And a final user posted: “The BBC are so useless. Spend five minutes talking about the weather instead of showing us Djokovic and then they put Boulter on when she’s on BBC Two already.”

Elsewhere, the BBC were also forced to defend their decision to hire Nick Kyrgios as a Wimbledon pundit after coming under fire from an MP.

Kyrgios, 28, has been working for the broadcaster, as well as US network ESPN, this week at the Championships.

Conservative MP Caroline Nokes slammed the BBC’s decision to appoint Kyrgios, calling it a “disgrace”.

Kyrgios pleaded guilty to assaulting ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari in 2021, pushing her to the pavement in an argument, but he was spared a criminal record when the offence was dismissed.

The BBC said in a statement: “As a current and high-profile player, Nick Kyrgios will provide insight and analysis of the action on the court from his experience in the game.

“We are in no way condoning his cited previous actions or behaviours, on and off the court, and he is employed to share his views on tennis only.

“The legal process he was involved in has concluded, is well documented, and he has spoken about it publicly.”

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Novak Djokovic’s opening stages against Brit Jacob Fearnley were not on TV[/caption]