the open (golf)

the golden visionary · February 3, 2015

Sky will have exclusive rights to the open from next year.
the bbc didn't bid enough, and skys £10 mil bid took the event off terrestrial tv for the first time in 60 years.

scandalous.

markmarkmark · February 3, 2015

It's an absolute travesty for golf in the UK, I'm genuinely gutted. The BBC will stump up the cash to keep danny murphy and robbie fowler in a job but not one of the oldest sporting events in history?

L4Everton · February 3, 2015

Murdoch wins again. Twas ever thus.

flibbyflob · February 3, 2015

Joke, guess I will have to find a stream to watch it on then as I won't pay the money for Sky even if I could easily afford it.

ilikecheese · February 3, 2015

Terrestrial TV? Dafuq is that?

squonk · February 3, 2015

They only lost the US Masters a year or so ago so that is all 4 majors on Sky now.

Real shame about the Open though as it got blanket coverage.

Kurt. · February 3, 2015

Puts everything into perspective.

RIP

Eggs · February 3, 2015

...I have the Sky package but this is wrong, there are a group of events that should be available to all viewers and this is one of them. It's why we pay a licence.

toffeemax · February 3, 2015

only a matter of time before your 'gold events' or whatever they are called, (e.g wimbledon + world cup) will be on sky. I mean the ashes really should be like that, now the open.

chrissyjack · February 3, 2015

I thought the Open was on the list of events to be kept on terrestrial tv . Government decree , or something

The Esk · February 3, 2015

chrissyjack said:
I thought the Open was on the list of events to be kept on terrestrial tv . Government decree , or something

The Open like the Ryder Cup is a Category B event meaning that only the highlights package must be shown "free to air".

Category A events must be shown live, free to air, and are :

Olympic games

Football world cup

Football European Championship

FA Cup final

Scottish FA Cup final (in Scotland)

Grand National

The Derby

Wimbledon finals

Rugby League Challenge Cup final

Rugby Union World Cup final

The Esk · February 3, 2015

Sky bid £75 million for a 5 year deal, which is twice the amount the BBC were offering.

Compare that to the £206 million the BBC bid for the Premier League highlights package for 3 years and approximately £15 million a year for F1 broadcast rights.

chrissyjack · February 3, 2015

the esk said:
The Open like the Ryder Cup is a Category B event meaning that only the highlights package must be shown "free to air".

Category A events must be shown live, free to air, and are :

Olympic games

Football world cup

Football European Championship

FA Cup final

Scottish FA Cup final (in Scotland)

Grand National

The Derby

Wimbledon finals

Rugby League Challenge Cup final

Rugby Union World Cup final