BBC’s coverage of British Open under threat

The BBC have been warned by the R&A they risk losing the rights to live coverage of the British Open if they do not keep pace with television’s technological revolution.

A contract is in place until 2016 but the corporation have reduced coverage of events in recent years and are facing fierce competition from satellite broadcaster Sky, who shared last month’s coverage of the Masters.

The British Open is currently on the B List of sporting events which are protected, which only stipulates highlights must be available free-to-air.