Should The Open TV coverage be free to air?

Sky Sports has secured The Open Championship until 2028.

Former R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers wrote in a statement: “Our partnership with Sky Sports has enabled us to deliver outstanding live coverage of our championships to fans, as well as providing important revenues which support our broader activities to develop golf around the world and sustain the sport for current and future generations.”

Golf fans have been required to watch the sport’s oldest major on the subscription-based behemoth since 2016, with the BBC completely dropping live golf from its agenda.

As much as Slumbers celebrated this partnership from the R&A’s perspective, the announcement struck sadness into the hearts of some golf fans who believe The Open should be free to air.

What side of the debate do you take? Should The Open follow the example of other sports institutions and offer itself to everyone, or does the quality of the event warrant a payment plan?

NCG’s Steve Carroll and Matt Chivers offer their two pence:

The Open Championship TV coverage: Should it be free?

Can you really ‘grow the game’ if people aren’t watching it?

If you’re reading this expecting me to put the boot into Sky Sports, you’ve come to the wrong place, writes Steve Carroll.

I’m a subscriber. They do a tremendous job and their coverage of The Open, and the production innovations they have launched over the past few years, have changed the way the sport is shown on our screens.

But their audience is also limited – to those who want to, or can afford to, subscribe. The number of people who watch on Sky, compared with the numbers that tuned in when the BBC had the rights, are poles apart.

There is a buzz phrase in golf. You’ll be familiar with it if you’ve ever watched any LIV Golf player talking. but they’re not the only ones to trot it out.

It’s ‘grow the game’. Can you really ‘grow the game’ if people aren’t watching it? Would more youngsters be inspired to pick up a club if golf’s biggest championship was sitting on their screens instead of being hidden behind a paywall? It’s how my journey began.

There are some events that should just be free to watch. The Olympics. The World Cup. The Euros. Yes, for me, our sport’s oldest and most cherished tournament belongs in that category.

Now, whether free-to-air terrestrial TV would want it? Well, that’s another debate entirely…

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Asking for The Open on terrestrial television is like asking for a mansion for free

I used to love watching The Open, and indeed the Masters, on the BBC, writes Matt Chivers. And we find ourselves in a sad situation where this is no longer possible.

Nowadays, wanting to watch The Open for free is a fanciful and completely unrealistic request.

With Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Amazon wrestling for Premier League rights which costs god knows what, elite sport with household names and superstars doesn’t come cheap.

When Sky Sports shows The Open, the coverage starts on Monday and it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s covered from every angle for seven days and fans don’t miss a beat.

From Thursday to Sunday, you are treated to about 4604737 hours of action, most of which are live coverage on the golf course.

Imagine golf’s biggest tournament, featuring stars who resonate with fans and who are loved around the world, being shown on terrestrial television.

It’s a great thought and one I wish still existed. But the question isn’t “Do I want The Open to be free to fair?” That’s like asking if you’d like a mansion for free.

The question is “Should The Open be free to air?” Despite its charm and the memories it evokes for so many people, the answer has to be no.

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