Why isn't The Open on TV? Fans rage at the BBC for showing Bargain Hunt over the golf as broadcasters face huge backlash
Viewers will have to wait until 1.30pm before they can see a golf ball be hit, and they're far from happy with it
The third round of The Open Championship proved to be one of the most thrilling in recent memory as a number of players had their turn at the top before Irish amateur Paul Dunne emerged out in front with Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen.
Eager golf fans woke up bright and early for the delayed fourth round on Monday morning for the first tee-off at 7.45am, flicked on BBC One – and were greeted with the daily Breakfast show.
“It must be on BBC2”, many will have thought. Nope.
Instead it was a cracking episode of Call The Council, followed by Helicopter Heroes Down Under and Escape To The Continent. By now they may have been thinking along the lines of ‘surely not…’ but as Homes Under The Hammer, Heir Hunters and Bargain Hunt came and went, the golf was nowhere to be seen.
That’s because the BBC will not start their live coverage on BB1 until 1.30pm – just in time to see the final five pairings tee-off on the first hole. Furthermore, the radio coverage on BBC Five Live doesn’t even start until 1pm, and fans have been left fuming over the lack of final day coverage for what is set to be a thrilling finish at St Andrews.
It comes at a time when the BBC is under huge pressure to scrap the licence fee and even more criticism for the reduction in sport coverage. After all, coverage of The Open will go to Sky Sports in 2017, and it’s no surprise really given that the subscription broadcasters will be able to offer round-the-clock coverage.
The BBC have already cut their Formula 1 coverage in half by only showing 10 races live for the past two seasons, and will also share their Six Nations rights with rivals ITV in which they have lost two-thirds of England matches for the next six years.
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