User generated content and video player Grabyo to make Wimbledon more interactive
Wimbledon is set to become more social this year, with video player Grabyo to be used to provide live replays on Twitter, as well as reactions from the audience.
Tennis fans will also be able to celebrate Andy Murray’s return to Wimbledon today at 1pm by tweeting #WelcomeBackAndy.
Any fan who tweets @Wimbledon with the hashtag #WelcomeBackAndy will receive an autographed digital photo of Murray winning Wimbledon, personalised with their Twitter handle.
Alexandra Willis, content and communications manager at Wimbledon, told the Telegraph: "Only half a million people get to come to Wimbledon, whereas we have a digital audience of over 20 million, so it’s about making our digital channels the next best thing to being here.
"Ultimately people who are tweeting are going to tweet anyway, and we don’t want to discourage that. But if they’re going to do it, we’d like them to engage in it with us, which is the idea behind the #WelcomeBackAndy moment."
Wimbledon will also be using user generated content on-screen at Henman Hill, with those attending urged to respond to any match-based questions posed.
Willis said: “You could ask a specific question like, 'Who has a better forehand, Andy Murray or Rafa Nadal?' and use the output you get from that to say 62 per cent of people on the Hill think Andy Murray’s forehand is better than Rafa’s, but actually 80 per cent of people elsewhere in the world think Rafa’s is better.
"That’s what is going to be very interesting for us, and for our broadcast partners, and for people watching."
Screens will not be put on the court, as it is believed that this would distract from the tennis.