Mark Ferguson assesses the latest TV deal for golf…
This week signalled another triumph for Sky Sports as they added another great sporting event to their list by landing the broadcasting rights to show golf’s grandest showcase – The Open Championship.
The five-year deal is thought to be worth around £15million a year and will see Sky Sports show live coverage of the event from 2017. Next year’s tournament will be the last time The Open is beamed into homes via the BBC, bringing to an end a partnership that will have lasted 61 years.
Sky’s hold on golf couldn’t be any firmer with the broadcaster holding the rights to all four majors, as well as the Ryder Cup. A long-standing tradition has been broken and the news has been greeted with a negative response from some of golf’s biggest names.
After the announcement was made by golf’s governing body, the Royal & Ancient, many feel that participation in the sport will continue to decrease and that money is being put before the good of the game.
British trio Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy have all been quick to voice their concerns about the tournaments switch to Sky.
Westwood branded the R&A’s decision “an absolute disgrace”. Speaking to the Telegraph, the former world number one then went on to say: “I cannot believe the Open isn’t protected as one of the crown jewels.
“It’s very disappointing, even though I can appreciate how much Sky have done for the European Tour and how much they’ve done for the game of golf. But look at the viewing figures for Sky compared to the BBC and you have to question it when the number of golfers are dwindling.
“I wouldn’t have got into golf if it wasn’t for watching Nick Faldo win the Open in 1987. I would watch every minute of the coverage and you want today’s kids to have the same opportunity. The BBC is doing golf no favours at all by letting the Open go.”
In agreement with their European Ryder Cup teammate, McDowell and McIlroy sympathised with the British public.
McDowell said: “I agree with Westy completely. I do sympathise with the British viewer.”
Current world number one and last year’s Open champion McIlroy said: “I guess it’s just the way it’s gone – money talks, you know.
“I know Sky is expensive and a lot of people can’t afford it and it is a shame. It would have been nice if they could have come to some sort of resolution but there it is.”
The R&A have insisted that the money from the deal will benefit the sport and go towards supporting golf participation in the UK and Ireland.
Chief executive of the R&A Peter Dawson said: “Importantly, the new agreement will enable us to increase substantially our support for golf in the United Kingdom and Ireland.”