Sky Sports to broadcast the Masters in 2011

[MikeH]

Hi all
I have just had this press release from Augusta drop into my inbox.
Comments?


Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, today announced additions to the Tournament’s television schedule and host broadcasters in the United Kingdom.
Beginning at the 2011 Masters, scheduled to take place the week of April 4-10, there will be an extra hour of live Tournament coverage Thursday and Friday, he said.
“Since our first telecast of the Masters in 1956, we have carefully maintained a tradition of high-quality programming within an appropriate broadcast window,” said Payne. “Now, with the proper infrastructure and resources in place, we are confident the additional coverage will meet the high standards of the millions of golf fans who enjoy viewing the Masters each April.”
In the United States, the Masters will air on ESPN from 3 – 7:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8.
Payne also announced that Sky Sports will join the BBC as a live broadcaster of the Masters during the 2011 Tournament.
The BBC, which now maintains an uninterrupted relationship with the Masters since 1986, will deliver the Tournament live on the weekend. Sky Sports will televise Wednesday’s Par 3 Contest and the four Tournament rounds Thursday – Sunday live. Sky Sports also brings with it the ability to distribute the first live 3D Masters coverage to U.K. viewers with 3D-capable televisions.
“We consider ourselves fortunate to have two committed television partners who are able to reach both new and established audiences throughout the United Kingdom,” Payne said. “This agreement was successful in both preserving a long-term partnership and adding a new dimension to our coverage in the U.K.”
The Masters has been broadcast by CBS every year since 1956 and early round coverage has been televised by ESPN since 2008. In 1993, the Masters introduced its first HD production and became the first golf tournament presented live in HD on network television in 2000. In 2010, the Masters became the first major sporting event in the United States to be produced and delivered in 3D to televisions and computers in homes throughout North America. In addition, the 2010 Masters gave rise to the first successful live transoceanic 3D distribution, involving select platforms in Europe.
In total, it is expected that the Masters will be telecast live or delayed in more than 200 countries. Additionally, the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service will be broadcasting the event to U.S. military installations throughout the world.

 

[Smiffy]

“Since our first telecast of the Masters in 1956, we have carefully maintained a tradition of high-quality programming within an appropriate broadcast window,” said Payne. “Now, with the proper infrastructure and resources in place, we are confident the additional coverage will meet the high standards of the millions of golf fans who enjoy viewing the Masters each April.”

Cushty!!
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[HogansAlley]

Just what the game needs - less and less exposure on terrestrial television.

In 1991, approximately 6million people watched Langer miss at Kiawah Island, now Sky's coverage of the Ryder Cup attracts a little over a million viewers.

At least it keeps the game nice and middle class. Afterall, we don't want people who can't afford a Sky subscription taking up the game.*

*I'm being ironic.

 

[HughJars]

Another bad day for TV golf in the UK

"“We consider ourselves fortunate to have two committed television partners who are able to reach both new and established audiences throughout the United Kingdom,”


Is he really this stupid, or just trying to put positive spin on money grabbing? Does he not know that the BBC is free to all, but SKY isn't?

 

[coolhand]

This could either be bad news for golf coverage (a) or good news for sports coverage in general (b).

a) It’s the thin end of the wedge as far as Masters coverage on the BBC goes, now they’ve got their foot in the door Sky make the organisers a offer the can’t refuse for exclusivity.
b) Sky now believe that between 3D, HD and + offerings they have enough differentiators to sell their packages in competition with terrestrial TV so stop paying silly money for exclusivity. Various sports governing bodies then need to look to put together joint coverage deals and those of us without Sky get to see more live sport on TV.

Hope it’s b) but suspect it’s a).

 

[colint]

Is the BBC free ? Fantastic, I'll cancel my TV licence direct debit then.

 

[Smiffy]

Is the BBC free ? Fantastic, I'll cancel my TV licence direct debit then.

Pay it in one lump. Then you won't have a Direct Debit.


Alas, you haven't got the option of doing that with the robbing bastard Murdoch

 

[Tiger]

Just when I started to watch golf on telly... I'm not so worried about next year as I'll be at work and hopefully there will still be highlights on Thursday and Friday evening. What worries me is this is how other sports started, kick off with dual coverage and then wallop bye bye cricket, football, rugby and now golf. The thing is if Sky reduced their subscription by 50% I reckon they'd more than double their viewing audience.

 

[Aztecs27]

Don't be silly. Murdoch is a greedy cnut..I very much doubt subscription costs will ever be reduced.

Of course, for now, this doesn't affect me because I have Sky with the Sports Package.

I'm waiting for HD to become "free" rather than paying the £10 a month premium before I upgrade to that though. Hopefully with the introduction of 3D telly, it might become included. Because the HD stuff is FREAKING AWESOME!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Sadly there was a degree of inevitability about this. BBC seem less and less interested in preserving any form of golf on their channels and Sky saw a business opportunity and pitched in. I'm guessing it won't be long before the Open goes the same way followed by all the other sporting "jewels" such as the Grand National and Wimbledon.

 

[Smiffy]

I'm waiting for HD to become "free" rather than paying the £10 a month premium before I upgrade to that though. Hopefully with the introduction of 3D telly, it might become included.

I understood that this was going to happen in June of this year but unfortunately it didn't.
When SkyHD was introduced they dropped the £10.00 per month charge for Sky+ so I went over to that. I fancy the idea of SkyHD but I'm not paying extra for it.
What I object to strongly is paying extra for Sky Sports and then having to stump up more to watch the "big" events like big fights etc. Murdoch is creaming in billions each year with tactics like this. Once he has got total control you will have to pay for things like the Masters, Open, Ryder Cup etc. etc. I just hope he doesn't get the rights to F1. Despite what people say about it, I still love watching it. I'm buggered if I'm going to pay extra.
Bollocks to that

 

[toonarmy]

I appear to be the only one happy at the thought of hearing less of Sam bloody Torrance and seeing less of the BBC's frankly rubbish coverage (exc. Ken on the course)

Sky's coverage is damn good. I seem to remember most people in here griping about BBC coverage over the last few years, so why the moaning at this?

 

[NickSwan]

I canceled Sky last year, might have to consider renewing it now.

BBC still have Sat + Sun coverage

Nick

 

[Aztecs27]

I appear to be the only one happy at the thought of hearing less of Sam bloody Torrance and seeing less of the BBC's frankly rubbish coverage (exc. Ken on the course)

Sky's coverage is damn good. I seem to remember most people in here griping about BBC coverage over the last few years, so why the moaning at this?

Because it will cost people an extra £400 a year for the privilege?

 

[Dodger]

I'm with Toon on this....I bloody hate the beeb coverage and would far rather have it on Sky.....goodbye to the crap that is Allis,Torrance,Grady...only one I will miss is Ken Broon.....maybe Sky could dith Clark and team Broon up with Radar,now there's a dream team!

 

[JonathanEly]

i cant not wait for this i for one dont have sky but i have the luxury to have the sky on my xbox 360 screening is poor but can still see a good coverage

 

[dangermouse]

it has long been ridiculous that the Thursday and Friday were not broadcast in the UK. If Sky are rectifying that, then good on them. Its not like the BBC hasn't got enough money to bid for the rights to 2 golf tournaments per year assuming US Open and USPGA stay on Sky), but unfortunately us golf fans are in a minority - the overpaid pillocks at the beeb would rather spend the cash on the likes of graham norton than showing quality live sport (and ruin any sport it does show by infecting it with lineker)

I appreciate sky is not an option for many due to the extortionate cost (can't complain too much as I pay it every month) but at least now the option actually exists.

 

[MarkE]

The BBC are not interested in golf for the rest of year, just the majors. Even then it's not as comprehensive a coverage as Sky provides. I'd rather have the choice whether I pay for Sky, than being forced to cough up for the dross on BBC.

 

[SyR]

What a shame. I'd rather watch the BBC coverage than have to pay for Sky and watch adverts every few shots. The BBC gives access to more golf fans and potential golfers than Sky ever can...

 

[Imurg]

I can't justify the cost of the Sky Sports Channels. I don't have the time to sit and watch endless Premiership games, cricket or whatever. I can justify sitting down for 4 nights watching the Masters and 4 days watching the Open. Paying 400 quid for watching 4 days golf doesn't fill me with enthusiasm.....

It will be interesting to see the viewing figures when both broadcasters show the same coverage. My guess is BBC's ratings will be 2 or 3 times that of Sky.