Some may say it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black. When Martin Slumbers, the chief executive of the R&A described the BBC’s coverage of the Open Championship as “tired and outdated” you could just about hear the startled snorts. To many, the game’s governing body is still housed in the same archaic, fusty corner of the museum as feathered quills and parchments.
With news coming through that coverage of the PGA Championship is set to move from Sky Sports to the BBC, the timing of the statement was pertinent. The Beeb have retreated from televised golf in recent years while those at Sky, which launched its first golf-dedicated channel recently, will be feeling particularly red-faced about this latest development regarding the broadcasting rights to one of the game’s four majors.
Speaking ahead of this week’s Open at Royal Birkdale, Slumbers said that he had been happy with the decision to take coverage of golf’s most cherished championship off free-to-air television and aimed a subtle dig at the former host broadcaster.
"I think when we moved last year, we took what was frankly a fairly tired and outdated broadcast and turned it into absolutely world class and raised the whole level of the way it was shown," said Slumbers. "I think that was a combination and a partnership of those organisations with the R&A that I think has truly improved how people are watching golf.
“The world of media has changed out of all recognition in the last 20 years. I think the world of TV has changed and is going to change even more, and I don't think anyone knows exactly where it's going.
"We're very comfortable working with a partner that really understands the technology, they understand golf, and they understand how they can help us showcase this fantastic championship to the world."
Slumbers also reiterated his belief that having the Open broadcast on terrestrial TV doesn’t impact on the number of people playing the game, saying he "doesn't buy the argument around participation and reach.”
He added: "It is clearly good to have more reach. But the Open is a global product. It's not just a UK product. We touched 600 million households last year with the Open Championship in multiple countries all around the world. This is a global event."
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