Spectators at this year's Open Championship "will get a unique view of one of the most famous holes in golf." A wire camera will "run the length of the par-three eighth hole at Royal Troon, known as the Postage Stamp, with cameras also placed in all five greenside bunkers on the 123-yard par-three." R&A Championship Operations Dir Rhodri Price said, "I have been desperate to put a wire camera on the course for years, but due to the playing conditions of golf in terms of ball flight, particularly from the likes of Bubba Watson, it is very difficult normally to place a wire camera on the course without it getting in the way of play." The 2016 Open Championship will be played at Royal Troon in July (PA, 4/26).
MEDIA BRIEFS ...
ESPN Media Distribution agreed to a worldwide multi-year deal with the Int'l Drone Racing Association. ESPN will bring the new sport of drone racing to fans in Europe, Middle East and Africa through representation of the IDRA rights with other broadcasters and media platforms. The distribution deal will see ESPN distribute the U.S. Nationals and World Championships across the EMEA region, with the first IDRA event at Governors Island, N.Y., on Aug. 5-7 (ESPN).
An Advertising Association/Warc Expenditure Report revealed that U.K. ad spend grew at its "highest rate since 2010 last year" by 7.5% to £20.1B ($29.3B). The data found that as a share of GDP, the U.K. ad spend rose to 1.08% in '15. The ad market is "expected to grow again this year, despite jitters about a possible British exit from the European Union," with AA/Warc forecasting 5.5% growth for '16 and for '17 (CAMPAIGN LIVE, 4/25).
