NEP secures multi-year Wimbledon extension with expanded AI and IP infrastructure

The extension secures NEP’s role in one of streaming's highest-profile live sporting events as Tier 1 productions move toward full IP-based workflows. By deploying automated AI tracking cameras on secondary courts, Wimbledon reduces on-site headcount while maintaining premium capture standards across its 18-court footprint. This hybrid model—combining traditional manual operation on Centre Court with AI-driven robotics elsewhere—serves as a blueprint for broadcasters seeking to scale content volume without proportional cost increases. Watch for the performance of the Nucleus camera system in 4K super-slow motion as a benchmark for premium rights holders transitioning from 1080p to UHD HDR standards.

The renewal comes as standard broadcast infrastructure undergoes a significant shift from traditional Serial Digital Interface (SDI) to IP-based transport. Per Haivision’s 2026 Broadcast Transformation Report, while SDI still serves as the backbone for approximately 82% of global operations, the adoption of the SMPTE ST 2110 standard is accelerating among Tier 1 live sports producers like the BBC and ESPN to support the massive bandwidth requirements of 4K and 8K uncompressed video. This transition is critical for high-throughput environments like Wimbledon, where a single 4K stream can consume up to 12Gbps. In the UK, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) also recently solidified its distribution roadmap, securing a domestic rights extension with the BBC through 2033. Per The Guardian, June 2026, this deal maintains Wimbledon’s status as a 'crown jewel' of free-to-air sports, ensuring wide accessibility even as the tournament owner adopts more sophisticated, data-intensive production technologies through partners like NEP. Parallel to production upgrades, the AELTC is expanding its use of generative AI for fan engagement. Per SportsPro, June 2025, the tournament now uses IBM's Watsonx platform to create automated spoken-word commentary and personalized match summaries for digital channels. This broader strategy aim to capture the attention of a shifting audience; Ross Video research noted in 2025 that while 64% of sports fans prefer traditional TV, more than 30% now prioritize viewing on smartphones or tablets, necessitating the flexible, IP-driven delivery models NEP is building at SW19.