Sky Sports Announces Dedicated Ryder Cup Channel

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This September, Sky Sports will devote an entire channel to the Ryder Cup, including round-the-clock golf coverage and 36 hours of exclusive live coverage of Ryder Cup play.

This September, Sky Sports will devote an entire channel to the Ryder Cup, including round-the-clock golf coverage and 36 hours of exclusive live coverage of Ryder Cup play.

On Thursday 18 September, Sky Sports 4 will become ‘Sky Sports Ryder Cup’ which will show over 330 hours of golf over a two week period, and will feature the only place on television to see live Ryder Cup coverage.

The channel will operate similarly to ‘Sky Sports Ashes’, which Sky Sports launched last year for England’s home cricket series against Australia.

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, talked about the new channel. “We’re dedicating a whole channel to the biggest event in golf, providing viewers with the complete Ryder Cup experience all in one place,” he said. “There will be nowhere better for sports fans to enjoy the passion, drama and excitement of this incredible event.”

According to Francis, the programming package will include non-stop buildup, the opening and closing ceremonies, and live coverage of all three tournament days from Gleneagles. This will mark Sky Sports’ tenth year of Ryder Cup coverage.

George O’Grady, Chief Executive of the European Tour, is happy to see Sky Sports’ commitment to golf renewed. “The dedication shown by Sky Sports in showcasing both the European Tour and The Ryder Cup is matched only by the continued excellence and innovation of their programming,” he said. “We are extremely proud of our relationship with Sky Sports and we thank them for their continued commitment and look forward to working together at Gleneagles and beyond.”

Paul McGinley, the captain of the European Ryder Cup team, is happy that Sky Sports will provide such dedicated coverage to the competition. “The Ryder Cup is a truly unique sporting spectacle, full of drama, excitement and passion,” McGinley said. “Having worked with the Sky Sports team at major golf events for the past couple of years, I know the professionalism and enthusiasm in place for our sport, all of which will go together to produce a feast of television for golf fans in September.”

Sky Sports will offer live coverage of the Ryder Cup across TV, online and mobile platforms, with their Sky Go service. Joining David Livingstone, live coverage will be presented by former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie and Butch Harmon. Jack Nickalus will also be in the studio on Sunday. Various other personalities will offer commentary, reporting and highlights throughout the weeks leading up to, and during, the Ryder Cup.

Fans attending the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles will be able to access the channel for free, even if they are not Sky Sports subscribers. Complimentar WIFI will be provided, along with access to Sky Sports provided by Sky Go and NOW TV.

For more information, visit skysports.com.

Mike Smith is an American undergraduate student studying journalism and political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is spending the summer living in London, studying British life and culture and working for Golf Monthly. He is excited to gain international working experience, as his career goal is to work in sports journalism.