Sky Sports, which will broadcast the Masters this week, is "elevating golf to one of the mainstays of the network with its own channel, seemingly at the expense of rugby union," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL. Sky is "revamping" its service this summer with cricket, Formula 1 and golf getting dedicated channels. Football is "still seen as the big seller" and will have two channels, one for the Premier League and one for "the rest." But rugby union, despite Sky televising the Lions and England's autumn internationals, is going to be "bundled with other sports in a variety package." The new format will allow a cheaper entry price for one package of £18 ($22.39) a month "but viewers will pay significantly more if they want to purchase the whole of the Sky Sports output."
RAISING THE BAR: The All England Club and Augusta National have a "very close relationship, with both intensely private organisations learning from each other" -- like each having one of their officials seated in "somewhat intimidating fashion" alongside players at every press conference. However, Wimbledon, with its "cramped press rooms," is going to have to raise its game to match the new £45M ($56M) media center in Augusta, "which resembles the interior of an antebellum mansion from Gone with the Wind" (DAILY MAIL, 4/3).
