Rain scrambles TV schedule

As expected, all the rain delays at Wimbledon have played havoc with the schedule and, as a result, created some confusion for television viewers.

With the men’s semifinals being played today instead of Friday, NBC is forced to televise them tape-delayed. The plan is to show them after the women’s final, which will be televised live at 6 a.m. PDT.

To make room for the men’s matches, NBC has expanded coverage by one hour. It will now run until noon, right before NBC begins coverage of the U.S. Senior Open golf.

ESPN senior vice president Len DeLuca said his network offered to televise the men’s matches live on ESPN2, but the offer was turned down by NBC. The men’s matches will be played before the women’s final.

Another problem with the television coverage arose Friday. The Andy Roddick-Richard Gasquet quarterfinal match was still in the first set when ESPN2 ended its Wimbledon coverage at 9 a.m. PDT. In the East, NBC immediately picked up the match and showed it live until its conclusion. But in the West, NBC was showing the “Today” show and didn’t go to the tennis until noon, creating a three-hour gap, leaving tennis fans hanging.

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-- Larry Stewart