SKY SPORTS SECURES THE RYDER CUP

Sky Sports has won the exclusive live rights to the next two Ryder Cups.
Under a new deal with the PGA European Tour, the 2001 Ryder Cup – to be staged at The Belfry – and the 2003 Ryder Cup – at Oakland Hills, Detroit – will both be exclusively live on Sky Sports.

Within the four-year deal Sky Sports has also renewed its broadcast rights to the European Tour with live coverage up to the end of the 2003 season. Each year Sky Sports will show at least 33 live Tour events including the English Open, European Open and the Alfred Dunhill Cup.

Announcing the deal, Ken Schofield, Executive Director of the European Tour, said: ‘The commitment made by Sky Television to golf has been unprecedented and this agreement will not only extend our partnership but also enhance the continued development of the game throughout Europe and beyond.

‘This commitment was unprecedented for European golf and we are delighted to be continuing an association which began when Sky first signed a major contract with the European Tour in 1993.’

Tony Ball, Chief Executive of BSkyB said: ‘The last three Ryder Cup tournaments have provided us with some of the most dramatic sporting moments of the decade, and we are delighted to continue our involvement.

Vic Wakeling, Managing Director of Sky Sports, added; ‘Once again, we shall cover the event live from first ball to last on all three days, something which never happened until Sky Sports became the principal broadcaster. We will offer the main coverage to all Sky Sports subscribers but we shall also use the Sky digital technology and capacity to enhance the coverage, developing new ways of watching the event – just as we did at Brookline this year.’

For further information please contact Roger Moody, Head of Acquisitons, Sky Sports
Tel: +44 171 805 7261 Fax: +44 171 705 3421