100-Year-Old Media Giant Embarrassingly Snubs Golf and the PGA Tour Despite a Fruitful Offer

Published 03/09/2023, 8:30 PM EST

Many sports have long-term tie-ups with broadcasting networks. The collaboration is what helps both the sport and the network grow. The BBC had one such relationship with the sport of golf until recently. But recently that partnership ended, and while there was a lot of speculation about why news about a deal the PGA Tour offered the network giant only added to the divide between the two former partners.

The BBC Network’s history with golf

Earlier this year, the BBC network announced that they were ending a 56-year-old tradition with the Masters. For over five decades, BBC was the go-to streaming network for the Masters. They first partnered up in 1967. And since 1986, the network had without fail broadcasted the major championships.

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Over the years, the coverage reduced from four days to weekends, and then, in 2020, to only the highlights of the Augusta Tournament streaming. And finally, earlier this year, the Network announced that it was cutting ties with golf altogether and that not even the Masters’ highlights would air on its network. But that wasn’t all!

‘Such a Shame’: Georgia Hall Joins Others in Slamming the BBC for Ignoring Golf for Decades

As per a recent Golf Monthly report, the BBC Network was adamant about its lack of golf coverage. In fact, the PGA Tour had offered them a chance to stream their highlights for free, and the broadcasting giant still turned them down! And the offer came more than once. But the BBC stood strong in its quest to distance itself from golf.

Why did the BBC reject the ever-appealing offer from the PGA Tour?

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To stream a sport for free at your own convenience is probably every broadcasting network’s dream. Why then did the BBC reject the offer without a second thought? Putting it simply, the sport of golf doesn’t align with the company’s new target demographic. The higher-ups wish to cater to a younger audience, and golf just doesn’t pull in that.

Turning down an offer where no fees are involved proves how dedicated the corporation is to its new demographic cause. They would rather stream a young generation’s sport like UFC on Monday than the highlights of a significant golf event like the Players Championship, and it shows that they’ve completely turned their back on the sport.

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Watch This Story – 6x Major Winner Phil Mickelson Once Revealed His Interesting Strategy Which Prevented the Legend From Getting Burned Out

What do you think about this move by the BBC? Is their strategy something you agree with? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Sheldon is a golf writer at EssentiallySports. He is a business graduate from Christ University with a degree in Finance and Accounting. He also has experience as a Senior Audit Associate at an MNC, but his love for writing drove him towards his dream, and he switched careers.

Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

100-Year-Old Media Giant Embarrassingly Snubs Golf and the PGA Tour Despite a Fruitful Offer

The BBC Network’s history with golf

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Why did the BBC reject the ever-appealing offer from the PGA Tour?