BBC Sport has signed a new multi-year agreement with The R&A, securing broadcasting rights for The Open Championship from 2025 to 2027.
The deal includes radio commentaries across 5 Live and BBC Sounds, TV highlights and digital clips on the BBC Sport website, app and social media platforms, ensuring that audiences across the UK can continue to enjoy free-to-air access to one of the most prestigious major championships in the global golfing calendar.
Kicking off the new agreement is coverage of the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush from 17-20 July. Fans will be able to enjoy 38 hours of live coverage of the Championship across Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. Live coverage starts with the first tee shot in 5 Live Breakfast on the Thursday, culminating with the final putt on Sunday evening. Highlights and key moments will also be available as digital clips on the BBC Sport website, app, and social media platforms, helping fans stay across all the action
The 5 live golf team is in Portrush across the week to provide previews, analysis plus the commentary of all four days of the Championship. Correspondent Iain Carter will lead the coverage, with Mark Chapman and Colin Murray presenting from inside the ropes within touching distance of the world’s best players.
Alongside in-depth radio coverage and digital clips will be TV highlights from Royal Portrush, capturing the best of the action from the 153rd Open Championship. Sarah Mulkerrins leads the onsite TV team alongside Rishi Persad, with an expert commentary line-up featuring Andrew Cotter and Ken Brown.
Audiences will be able to see all the important shots and drama alongside insight from ‘Ken on the Course’ and end-of-play analysis. Fans can also follow live digital text coverage on the BBC Sport Website and the app.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, says: “This is a fantastic deal that ensures audiences can continue to enjoy the very best of The Open across BBC Sport. It’s an iconic moment in the sporting calendar, and BBC Sport will bring the drama and stories to life on TV, iPlayer, Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and online.”
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, says: “Extending our long-standing partnership with BBC Sport is incredibly important in ensuring that the drama and excitement of these historic championships will continue to be enjoyed by millions of viewers throughout the UK.
“The Open sits at the heart of the great British sporting summer and the BBC’s extensive radio, television and digital coverage will mean that the compelling stories from the Championship are shared with existing fans as well as inspiring new ones.”