Sky wins Open Championship rights from 2017

[Hibby Bairn]

Torn on this. More money which in turn should help develop game in UK plus also better production.

But it must still exclude many people from watching.

[lord bunberry]

Have they got exclusive rights to it?

[Mathias Jack]

Have they got exclusive rights to it?

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/golf/graeme-mcdowell-airs-concerns-as-open-moves-to-sky-sports-from-2016-1-6555126

According to this yeah, from 2016

[Hibby Bairn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/31114083

[Sylar]

Reasons to continue paying a license fee are dropping one by one...

With the exception of the odd good drama, the BBC have become a somewhat farcical institution.

[Pretty Boy]

Just commented on this on the PM board.

I fully back this decision. The BBC has for too long had the rights to the biggest days in the sporting calendar at the expense of those who broadcast and invest in the sports regularly. The example I gave on the PM board was when they lost the Grand National, Derby etc to Channel 4 and kicked up a fuss. Sorry but 4 broadcast horse racing on a weekly basis, why should they lose out on 3 or 4 of their biggest audiences of the year because the BBC fancies broadcasting one of the big days?

Sky give the European Tour a regular TV platform in this country so it's only right they should get the biggest golfing audience of the yer when it comes along.

[Scottie]

Torn on this. More money which in turn should help develop game in UK plus also better production.

But it must still exclude many people from watching.
The money made will not get to the grass roots unfortunately it will only make the players and sponsors richer.

Next one to go will be the 6 Nations :rolleyes:

[Sir David Gray]

I wonder when either Sky or BT Sport will bid for Wimbledon.

[Gatecrasher]

I thought these sort of events were protected against being put behind a subscription?

[Sir David Gray]

I thought these sort of events were protected against being put behind a subscription?

The Open is in category B on the list of "protected sports events" which means that a pay per view broadcaster may bid for live coverage, however sufficient "secondary coverage" must be shown on free to air channels, which could be in the form of either highlights or a delayed broadcast.

The only tournaments/events which are in category A and therefore must be shown live on free to air channels are;

Football World Cup (entire tournament)
Football European Championships (entire tournament)
FA Cup final
Scottish Cup final (in Scotland)
Grand National
Epsom Derby
Rugby League Challenge Cup final
Rugby Union World Cup final
Wimbledon men's and women's finals
Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games

[Gatecrasher]

The Open is in category B on the list of "protected sports events" which means that a pay per view broadcaster may bid for live coverage, however sufficient "secondary coverage" must be shown on free to air channels, which could be in the form of either highlights or a delayed broadcast.

The only tournaments/events which are in category A and therefore must be shown live on free to air channels are;

Football World Cup (entire tournament)
Football European Championships (entire tournament)
FA Cup final
Scottish Cup final (in Scotland)
Grand National
Epsom Derby
Rugby League Challenge Cup final
Rugby Union World Cup final
Wimbledon men's and women's finals
Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games
Thanks for the clarification. Im surprised it isn't to be honest.