BBC worried over Masters rights 01/04/2010 |
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The BBC is “almost resigned” to losing the rights to the US Masters golf after this year’s tournament, it has been claimed.
Barbara Slater, the BBC's new director of sport, will travel to the season's first major to try to negotiate a new deal, but The Independent newspaper quotes an industry insider as saying that the corporation expects to lose the rights to pay-TV rival Sky.
The current contract expires after this year's event and the paper claims talks are already underway with British broadcasters regarding a new three-year deal to begin next year.
When Augusta officials agreed to stick with the BBC in 2007, it is believed they did so on the understanding it would have to pay the "market rate" for the next renewal. Sky outbid its rivals on that occasion and will certainly do so again as it looks to tighten its grip on professional golf. The Masters would see Sky showing the three American majors, as well as the Ryder Cup.
The BBC first screened the Masters in 1967 and after winning it back from Channel 4 in 1986, has covered the last 24 tournaments.
A BBC spokesman told The Independent: "Talks with the organisers have been underway for some time and Barbara Slater will be travelling to Augusta to meet with them and hold further talks.”
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