BBC Signs New Five Year Deal to Broadcast The Open Until 2016

The Open will be broadcast on the BBC up to and including the 2016 Championship, following a new deal announced today by BBC Sport and The R&A.

The new deal extends BBC Sport's current contract as exclusive live television broadcaster, and also covers radio, online, interactive and BBC iPlayer.

This year's event, the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship, will be the first ever to be broadcast in High Definition (HD). Over 40 hours of coverage will be broadcast over the four day competition on BBC One, BBC Two and the BBC HD Channel, presented by Hazel Irvine and starting at 9am on Thursday 15 July. There will be approx 40 hours of content available on the BBC Red Button.

BBC Director of Sport, Barbara Slater, says: "We are delighted to have extended our partnership with The R&A to broadcast The Open, one of our most important crown jewel events. We look forward to continuing to bring top class golf coverage to the widest possible audiences through to 2016."

Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A, says: "The R&A has enjoyed a special relationship with the BBC for more than 50 years. On the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship, we are very pleased to have ensured the continuation of that relationship.

"It is very important to The R&A that The Open remains accessible to as many people as possible and the BBC is an ideal partner in fulfilling this ambition across the United Kingdom."