Why Is The Masters Not On BBC?
The BBC has highlights-only TV coverage after Sky Sports signed an exclusive rights deal in 2019
Sadly for terrestrial TV golf fans, the BBC's golfing days are numbered if not gone forever. 2020 marked the first time since 1955 that the BBC showed precisely zero live Major championship golf on our television screens.
The good old days
Viewers of a particular vintage will fondly remember Steve Rider’s hair blowing about in the wind in the BBC’s open-sided Augusta booth, with Peter Alliss deliciously describing iconic moments like Sandy Lyle’s 7-iron in 1988 as the ball trundled back down the slope to makeable range – “this could spin; this could go”.
Even in 2019, there was sufficient live coverage over the weekend for non-Sky customers to get a more than healthy fix of Tiger’s remarkable victory.
But from 2020, nothing, I’m afraid. So, why is the Masters not on BBC this year? It's because, in 2019, Sky signed an exclusive deal with Masters tournament officials.
So this year, if you want to watch live coverage of The Masters in the UK, it will only be via Sky Sports. It will be showing live coverage of all four days on its Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports The Masters channels. There's also an official app featuring a live blog, live updates from Amen Corner, rolling highlights, and featured groups. You'll also find an archive full of footage from past Masters Tournaments and other special features.
If you don’t have Sky, don’t despair - a Now TV Sky Sports Pass is an excellent alternative for those who don’t want to commit to a long-term contract.
You can get a day pass giving you access to all 11 Sky Sports Channels, which will stream on pretty much every modern device.
At the time of writing, the prices were £11.98 for a day pass.
BBC TV highlights and live radio
BBC will still offer TV highlights packages, however.
These will go out at the following times on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website and mobile app:
Friday 8th - Round One highlights 12.15am
Saturday 9th - Round Two highlights 12.05am
Sunday 10th - Round Three highlights tbc
Monday 11th - Final Round highlights tbc
