The Open Championship Moves to ESPN

[BigAl5150]

Starting in 2010, ESPN will televise live all four rounds of the Open Championship.

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=3700961

[Sherlockian]

I hope they actually show the majority of the rounds, instead of making a 1hour edited show for primetime. As a Bass fisherman and devout follower of the Bassmaster Elite series, ESPN has pissed me off many times. A four day tournament cut down to a 30 minute show, with more advertisements than content. I also hope they have decent golf commentators. In the past for other sports(soccer, fishing, yachting, gymnastics, etc.) they have used either hollywood type celebs or clueless sports celebs that have no idea about the sport they are talking about.

[gogolfing]

In the past they have used ABC people for their golf, so I'd imagine this will continue.

[Stacey_E]

Starting in 2010, ESPN will televise live all four rounds of the Open Championship.

That's terrible! I know this is hard to believe, but in rural areas there are some of us that still don't have cable available. And I am not, call me cheap, paying for a satelite service! I'd rather pay for greens fees.

[Cizzle]

That's terrible! I know this is hard to believe, but in rural areas there are some of us that still don't have cable available. And I am not, call me cheap, paying for a satelite service! I'd rather pay for greens fees.

I sure hope you get that converter box, or you won't have any any TV!

Seriously, do you have rabbit ears or something? -And Tirico is a pro.

[Stacey_E]

I sure hope you get that converter box, or you won't have any any TV!

I already got it and I get 12 channels for free, haha. Got a big old outside antennae. I could probably get more channels, but I get all those in one position on the antennae.

[geezer]

Its times like these that make me think how thankful I should be for the BBC.
The masters and The Open covered every year, with no advert breaks whatsoever .

[Sherlockian]

Its times like these that make me think how thankful I should be for the BBC.

You are very lucky in that respect. I despise waiting on a television show and having to watch more commercials than anything. ESPN is infamous for this.

[Chilidipper]

I hope that gasbag Berman isn't out there. I can't stand him

[Guest]

I think ESPN does some pretty innovative things with their broadcasts of other major sports -- so I'm hopeful that they might use this opportunity to come up with some new ways to present golf and hopefully expand it's intrigue. ESPN received the contract with R&A; because of ESPN's innovative ideas. Let's face it, in the US the British Open just doesn't get the coverage of the other majors. I think this is a great move -- if ESPN does one thing well, it's marketing their products. I personally am looking forward to ESPN sending their Sports Center crew across the Atlantic each year to cover this. It will be a big deal, and I think it's very exciting.

But I do agree that the recap coverage for those without cable is not enough. They need to simulcast on both, it's not right to assume everyone can afford cable. But in the US, the Open Championship is just not the same as the Masters or the US Open (obviously). Hopefully this will go some way towards giving this truly special event it's greater due!

[wilbur.kay]

I was lucky enough to be at The Open Championship this year and bought one of the radios to listen to the on course commentators and they were amazing. They were also broadcast over the net and through stellite radio and I will definitely be tuning in next year to those guys. They were mainly ex-tour pros from the European tour and were all good friends who were able to tease each other in the slow periods of play and add their own experiences in there too. Very funny guys which helped to take the edge off the tears when Norman capitulated AGAIN on day four...

[Prodigy]

hopefully we wont have any bonehead espn guy yapping on and on. By the way where are they havin the open this year

[wilbur.kay]

Turnberry, Ailsa course. Which was the scene for the 'Duel in the sun' between Watson and Nicklaus. The vid of it is on youtube and I strongly recommend people watching it. Broken into 8 parts but great value watching anyway. Worth it for the last 4 holes.

[r7 425]

Tirico and Peter Aliss for 4 rounds....Thats too much.

[nevets88]

I'll put it on the line and say that by 2010, *if* ESPN broadcasts over the internet, the feed should be half decent, qualitywise. That is a big *if*. Lets hope the networks learned something from the Olympics.

That doesn't solve the distribution problem though because broadband penetration in the US is still low (though getting better), relative to other advanced countries.