Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Media & Entertainment Law Blogs -> Sports Biz

Media & Entertainment Law

: Sports Biz

British Open Moves to ESPN in 2010

The transition of major sporting events to cable TV that I wrote about the other day is happening faster than anticipated. ESPN and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews announced that beginning in 2010, all four rounds of the British Open, along with the Senior British Open and the next two Walker Cups will be shown on ESPN. The last two rounds of the Open have been shown ABC.

The deal with the WWLS includes extensive multimedia rights, including live coverage of ESPN360, the digital streaming service available in a few broadband served homes in the US. It is not yet available in any home served by Comcast or Time Warner Cable, significantly limiting its reach. Nevertheless, ABC/ESPN's ability to deliver technology and extensive multimedia platforms appears to be crucial to R&A's decision. "Envisaging the platforms where a younger generation could be positively influenced to experience The Open Championship over the next decade was a significant factor in assembling this arrangement with ESPN," said Alastair Johnson, IMG Vice Chairman who led the negotiations on behalf of the R&A.

Although financial terms weren't disclosed, ESPN is reportedly paying $25 million a year for six or seven years.

ESPN is paying $25 million a year for five or six years to move all four rounds to cable.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on November 14, 2008 (boomark / email).