Sky and Setanta to battle for golf rights

[Media Boy]

Info from Broadcast.

BSkyB and Setanta Sports are set to battle it out for the TV rights to golf's European Tour and Ryder Cup, both of which are up for grabs. Sports media company IMG have issued an invitation to tender to broadcasters for both tournaments and Sky will push hard to retain the rights following the loss of some PGA events to rival Setanta.

The rights being offered are for a four year package of the European Tour from 2009 and the Ryder Cup competitions in 2010 and 2012.

BBC bid
While the BBC could bid for the live rights to the biannual Ryder Cup event, it is likely to settle for the highlights again.
A source said: "It'd be hard for a terrestrial broadcaster to pick up the live rights for both because they require so much airtime."
Meanwhile, IMG has begun recruiting for Virgin Media's new sports news channel after it emerged as the preferred supplier.
TWI, the TV arm of IMG, is looking for a sports news editor, assistant editors and news desk co-ordinators for the launch which is expected before the end of the year.

Cable talks
The cable operator has been in talks about launching its own channel since the Sky basic channels - including Sky Sports News - were removed from its platform on 1 March, after the two companies failed in their carriage deal negotiations.

Virgin Media remains in talks with Setanta Sports over a potential tie-up regarding the channel, according to sources.

Virgin requires access to Setanta's TV rights, which include some premiership football and PGA Tour golf, as sports footage is not included in the news sharing agreement between broadcasters.

[Media Boy]

BSkyB and BBC have secured the rights to broadcast the Ryder Cup and PGA European Tour for four years from 2009.

The deal, which is an agreement in principle and still subject to final negotiation, will see Sky offer live coverage of the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and the 2012 US-hosted edition at Medinah.

The satellite company has also retained the rights to live coverage of the bulk of the European Tour.

The BBC will show highlights from Medinah and the Ryder Cup.

The corporation has also held onto to coverage of the US Masters.

The news will come as a relief to Sky after it lost the rights to the US PGA Tour to Setanta Sports last year.
Info from Broadcast.