UK public service broadcaster, the BBC, has retained its highlights and audio rights package for the Ryder Cup, golf’s iconic biennial men’s competition between Team Europe and Team US, until 2029.
The deal, struck with the DP World Tour, comes a week before Team Europe attempts to defend its title at the 45th edition of the tournament, which tees off in New York from September 26 to 28.
The BBC said its coverage of this year’s tournament will include a daily 90-minute highlights program aired from Bethpage Black in New York on its BB2 linear channel and streaming service BBC iPlayer from midnight after each day’s play.
Digital clips will be available on BBC Sport social media channels and on the website each day, while live radio coverage of the tournament will be available online.
Alongside rights to the Ryder Cup, the agreement also includes the highlights and digital clips from other top-tier tournaments such as the Scottish Open, PGA Championship, and DP World Tour Championships until 2029, as well as audio rights covering the PGA Championship, which the broadcaster will offer via BBC Sounds, 5 Sports Extra, and the BBC Sport website.
BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said: “Golf can have you up on your feet in an instant. The suspense, drama and camaraderie in the sport is second to none and the Ryder Cup is one of the highlights in the golf calendar.
“I’m proud that we’ve extended our partnership with the DP World Tour until 2029 to deliver multiplatform and digital coverage of the Ryder Cup and more on BBC Sport.”
Pay-TV operator Sky holds the main UK rights for the Ryder Cup after extending its deal to cover the tournament until the 2025 edition on its dedicated Sky Sports Ryder Cup channel.
The 2023 edition of the Ryder Cup saw a record audience for Sky, with 3.7 million tuning into the pay-TV broadcaster's coverage over the three-day tournament.
Sky said across the three days (September 29 to October 1), there was an average of 785,000 viewers - a 38% increase on the previous 2021 edition and 25% on 2018.
The broadcaster also noted a 14% rise from 2021 in under-35s tuning in to watch Team Europe beat Team USA, highlighting the sport's growing appeal to younger fans.
The event also proved popular online, with over 10 million views of editorial content and over 2 million video views across the broadcaster’s website and app.
The next European edition will be held at Adare Manor, Ireland, in 2027, while Minnesota’s Hazeltine National Golf Club has been chosen as the host of the 2029 edition in the US.
Most recently, the tournament organizers confirmed its 2031 edition will be hosted by the Camiral Golf and Wellness Resort in Girona, Spain.
Meanwhile, the US golf’s PGA Tour has added aviation company Blade Urban Air Mobility as a sponsor for this year’s Ryder Cup tournament.
The company becomes the tournament’s official air mobility partner and will facilitate helicopter taxi rides between three Blade Lounges in Manhattan, the surrounding New York areas, the Bethpage Vertiport, and neighbouring Republic Airport.
The company said it expects to transport around 3,000 over four days, with flights lasting only 12 minutes as opposed to hours-long drives to the course. Flights will be made available by-the-seat and by private charter through the Blade app.
John Handley, PGA’s director of partnerships and championship sales, said: “Blade is helping make travel to the Ryder Cup faster, seamless, and more enjoyable for our guests.
“Together, we are committed to providing a world-class experience to and from Bethpage Black.”
