ESPN has shifted Wimbledon coverage for online viewers to its new Unlimited platform at a higher cost. The move has prompted complaints from subscribers ahead of the tournament.
ESPN altered its streaming requirements for Wimbledon this year. Viewers who previously used the ESPN app with a $13 monthly ESPN Plus subscription must now pay $30 for ESPN Unlimited to access matches.
Cable subscribers can continue watching on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC without extra fees. The broadcaster tested a similar approach during the Australian Open earlier in 2026.
Fans voiced frustration on social media. One user stated, “Ain’t no one buying that ESPN Unlimited! They need to hang it up!” Another said the changes represented “the quickest way to kill the sport in a country that already barely watches it.”
ESPN holds U.S. rights to Wimbledon through a deal with the AELTC that runs until 2035. The Unlimited platform is intended to serve as the main hub for the network’s sports content.