BBC to lose The Masters to Sky?

[dutchman]

The BBC is reportedly concerned that it could lose broadcast rights to The Masters golf tournament to a rival bid from Sky, it has emerged.

The corporation has covered the last 24 Masters events from Augusta in a relationship stretching back to 1967, but its latest three-year rights contract expired last month.

In 2007, BBC director general Mark Thompson accompanied the corporation's then director of sport Roger Mosey for rights talks with representatives from Augusta National.

However, new director of sport Barbara Slater will have to negotiate a new three-year agreement alone when she travels to Augusta for talks.

The corporation will hope that the Augusta negotiators retain their stance that viewing figures are more important than financial concerns in the sale of UK rights.

The BBC's coverage of The Masters regularly attracts around four million viewers, which would be greater than on Sky, but the satellite broadcaster would most likely be able to pay more for the rights.

Speaking about the situation, an industry insider told the Daily Mail: "We hear it could be as late as The Open Championship in July before anything is announced [on a new deal]. I wouldn't say we're confident of the outcome but we are still hopeful.

"It's not as if Augusta need the money and we hope they will take into account the job we've done over the years and the fact that we will reach more viewers."

[pollyanna]

I don't watch golf so it won't worry me - but there's a lot of folks who do - 4 million according to the article - and if they don't have Sky that's bad news for them.