Rugby Commentator Eddie Butler Says BBC Let Open Go Due To Lack Of Viewers

The BBC "did not fight to keep the rights to The Open 'with much vigour' because not enough people watched it," rugby commentator Eddie Butler has suggested, "as he promises the corporation is instead bracing itself to protect the Six Nations," according to Hannah Furness of the London TELEGRAPH. Butler said that the corporation "was preparing to defend its right to the Six Nations, which had a bigger audience." Speaking at Hay Festival, he said that the BBC "did not have unlimited money to plough into sports, in a world where they are competing with commercial channels." Saying he was prepared to speak out for the corporation, which he conceded was "notoriously bad at defending itself," he insisted the BBC "would take its commitment to rugby very seriously" (TELEGRAPH, 5/28).