Sky Sports snatches golf Open from BBC

Pay TV operator Sky’s Sky Sports arm has confirmed that it has secured exclusive live coverage rights to the The Open golf tournament, taking the competition from the BBC, which has held the rights for the last 59 years. 

Sky said it would extend and enhance coverage of The Open, including live coverage of all four days’ play in their entirety across TV, online, mobile and tablet devices.

The tournament will be available to Sky Sports subscribers and to also to non-subscribers through Now TV, which offers access to seven sport channels for £6.99 (€9.25) a day or through a week pass at £10.99.

The new rights agreement also offers Sky Sports viewers exclusively live coverage of The Walker Cup in 2019 at Royal Liverpool.

“The Open is the world’s preeminent golf championship and we are committed to taking coverage of the event to new levels. We offer something for every sports fan and this exciting agreement for The Open means our customers can now enjoy all four Majors live,” said Barney Francis, Sky Sports managing director.

“Sky Sports has a passion for golf that has spanned two decades, offering unrivalled commitment, airtime and promotion as well as year-round innovative coverage.  We look forward to working with The R&A to entertain and engage new and existing golf fans through our multi-platform coverage and also at the grassroots level via Sky Academy.”