UK pay-TV heavyweight Sky Sports has extended its rights deal covering the prestigious British Open golf event until 2028.
Through a deal unveiled today, Sky will continue to cover the Open, the Women’s Open, and various elite amateur events run by the R&A organizing body, for the next four years.
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The extension carries on a partnership that began in 2016 when the network first covered the major UK golf event.
The deal was last renewed in July 2019, carrying the relationship between the two parties up beyond the 2024 edition of the Open.
The BBC, the UK’s public-service broadcaster, showed action from the iconic event for the final time under their rights deal in 2015.
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Sky UK customers will be able to watch the action in high-definition, and also to follow specific players and news stories from the events via the Sky Sports digital and social media platforms.
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By GlobalDataThe Open will also continue to be available via the Now TV over-the-top service operated by Sky.
Jonathan Licht, Sky Sports’ managing director, has said: "We are delighted to be able to extend our relationship with the R&A, as Sky Sports continues to be the home for the biggest golf tournaments in the world, including all the Majors this year.
“The Open and the Women's Open are two iconic championships and center-pieces of any sporting summer for fans. We look forward to continuing to offer our award-winning coverage across our Sky Sports platforms."
Martin Slumbers, the R&A’s chief executive, added: “Our partnership with Sky Sports has enabled us to deliver outstanding live coverage of our championships to fans, as well as providing important revenues which support our broader activities to develop golf around the world and sustain the sport for current and future generations.
"The live broadcast continues to push boundaries and use technology to give viewers a deeper understanding and appreciation of the skill required by the world's best players and presents the drama and excitement of our championships in a dynamic and entertaining way.”
This year’s British Open will take place between July 18 and 21 at Royal Troon on the coast of Scotland, while the 2025 edition is set for Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
The 2024 Women’s Open, meanwhile, will be held at the iconic Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland, meanwhile.
Other broadcasters around the world already confirmed as 2024 partners of the Open include NBC in the US, Viaplay in the Nordic European countries, and Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands.
Media rights to the event are distributed by global agency giant IMG.
Sky, meanwhile, renewed its rights in the UK to cover golf’s US PGA Championship for the next three editions, in mid-November.
Sky’s extensive golf portfolio in the UK and Ireland covers all four men’s major tournaments, as well as all women’s majors, the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup Europe vs USA competitions, as well as the DP World Tour, Ladies European Tour, and LPGA Tour.
It covers all the above action – over 100 individual tournaments in total – on its specific Sky Sports Golf Channel.
