BBC 'axe' Masters show after 56-year association just two months before major

17 February 2023 , 09:43

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The Masters is set not to air on the BBC this year for the first time since 1986 (Image: Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

The BBC will reportedly not provide TV coverage of The Masters this year, having aired the tournament in some form or another for the past 56 years.

With the first of golf's four major championships just two months away, the Telegraph report that BBC chiefs have privately admitted they have given up hope of striking a new deal to broadcast the Masters as they make cost-cutting efforts.

The BBC first broadcasted the major in 1967 before briefly losing the rights to Channel 4. However, it has aired every Masters since 1986, but their coverage has been reduced over the years. In 2011, Sky obtained the rights to broadcast all four days, while the BBC aired live footage from the weekend.

In 2020, their coverage was reduced to highlights only, with Sky Sports securing an exclusive broadcast deal for £10m a year. During last year's Masters, Sky Sports announced a multi-year extension, but the BBC did not make an announcement of their own.

And the report states the BBC have baulked at demands of more than £1m a year for the highlights, with chiefs deciding to walk away as the corporation looks to cut costs.

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Speaking last month, world number one Rory McIlroy said it would be "unfortunate" if the Masters was no longer shown on the BBC. "I think if you're thinking nostalgically, yes, it is, growing up watching the Masters and The Open on BBC," he said.

Rory McIlroy said it would be "unfortunate" if the Masters was no longer shown on the BBC (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

"I just think the landscape of sports and media and entertainment has changed so much over the last 10 years that it's not the model anymore. It's either Sky in the UK or it's streaming services.

"And the rights to these sporting events have just become so expensive that it's just not feasible for companies like the BBC to pay that sort of money. Is it unfortunate? Yes, but I'd say that the majority of the households in the UK have Sky and people are still able to watch."

The Telegraph report claims the BBC declined to comment on the matter, while it also adds that both ITV and Channel 4 are not in contention to air highlights of the tournament.

Mirror Sport has also reached out for comment from the BBC.

Matthew Cooper