Category: Sport
Date: 15.07.2005
Printable version
The BBC has secured the UK television rights to broadcast
The Open until 2011 after agreeing a deal with The R&A, golf's world
rules and development body.
The announcement comes as the BBC celebrates 50 years
since its first live television broadcast of the world's oldest golf
championship.
The Open is currently being shown live on the BBC from
St Andrews, the home of golf.
As part of the five-year deal, the BBC has also secured
the television rights for the Walker Cup and the live and delayed online
rights to both The Open Championship and the Walker Cup.
Dominic Coles, BBC Sports Director of Rights and Finance,
said: "We are very proud of our long association with this prestigious
and most historic event and we're all delighted that it will continue
until 2011."
R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson said: "I am delighted
that it has again been possible to extend our strong relationship with
the BBC and so to bring The Open to the largest possible audience."
In a separate deal already agreed, BBC's Radio Five
Live has the non-exclusive radio rights to The Open until 2009.
