The "future of one of sport’s most iconic events on free-to-air television was in the balance on Thursday night as the BBC and BSkyB battled for the rights to the Open Championship," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH.
The tender process for the 155-year-old competition "was well under way," with British golf’s governing body "facing one of its biggest decisions over whether to embrace pay-TV for the first time."
The R&A "has stood by the BBC as exclusive rights holders for more than half a century," but that commitment "has been tested to breaking point" with outgoing CEO Peter Dawson "leaving the door open for a pay-TV partner." With U.S. broadcasters "lavishing money on golf’s other majors" -- Fox Sports paid more than $1B over 12 years for the US Open rights in '13 -- the R&A "may find the need to keep pace irresistible." The tender "takes place in an uncertain climate for golf, which has suffered an alarming slump in participation in recent years." When the R&A renewed its deal with the corporation in '10, terrestrial coverage "was seen as essential." But the erosion of the BBC’s commitment to the sport during the subsequent two summers "brought a stark warning from the man who steps down after 16 years in September." Dawson: "We have had that conversation with the BBC. You have to stay in practice and keep up with advances in technology." He added, "The BBC know they need to get off the financial plateau they are on with the Open Championship by the next time it comes around" (TELEGRAPH, 1/8). Also in London, James Corrigan reported Lee Westwood has "urged the BBC to do everything in its powers to convince the R&A to keep live coverage of the Open Championship on free-to-air TV." Although Westwood "admires Sky's commitment to the sport, he feels it would be 'a huge shame' if the Open were to disappear from terrestrial screens." He said, "You can’t really fault Sky with the resources they put into golf and, obviously, now that they have the Masters, the Open is the last piece in the jigsaw for them, as far as male professional golf is concerned. But from a golfing perspective and reaching the widest possible audience and all that it would be very disappointing" (TELEGRAPH, 1/9).
