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The Foxtel Group has announced a new multi-year agreement with The R&A that will see every round of The Open, as well as its lineup of other world-class championships, preview shows and highlights, shown Live and Exclusive on Foxtel and Kayo from 2022 onwards.
The AIG Women’s Open and The Senior Open, presented by Rolex Exclusively Live, will also be shown on Foxtel. The AIG Women’s Open will be available Live for free on Kayo Freebies.
Next year in 2022 will mark a historic chapter for golf’s original championship as The 150th Open is played at the home of golf, The Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland. This new deal will see the renewed partnership move to the next level, with 2.4 million subscribers now watching sport on Foxtel and Kayo, viewers will have exclusive access to more content, more programming and overall coverage.
Rebecca McCloy, Foxtel Group Commercial Director – Sports, said: “With 2.4 million subscribers now watching sport on Foxtel and Kayo, up 26% on last year, the Foxtel Group provides the largest audience of dedicated sports fans in the country.”
“Golf and The Open is fantastic entertainment and we have seen audiences grow +13% on the last championship in 2019. Kayo has turbo-charged this growth, attracting a new legion of fans and with the AIG Women’s Open also available to watch Live on Kayo Freebies, it provides even more opportunity for fans to access more of the world’s best golf.”
“The 149th Open played this year drew the biggest audience since 2012 and the dedicated The Open pop-up channel on Foxtel saw over 3.4 million hours viewed.”
“This exclusive multi-year agreement sees us secure the free and paid rights, making Foxtel and Kayo the only place to watch The Open, as well as The R&A’s other world-class golf events.”
“Australia has a long and storied history with The Open, starting with Peter Thomson who become the first Australian to lift the Claret Jug when he won the 83rd Open in 1954 and again in 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965.” says Neil Armit, Chief Commercial Officer, The R&A.
“Kel Nagle (1960), Greg Norman (1986, 1993) and Ian Baker-Finch (1991) have all earned the title of Champion Golfer of the Year and thanks to our relationship with the Foxtel Group, golf fans in Australia will be able to watch the current wave of home-grown talent compete in The Open,” Armit adds.
“The Open is golf’s most international major with qualifying events hosted on every continent. With a diverse and international playing field, it is important to The R&A that fans all over the world are able to view this special week when the pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy is the focus of the sporting world. Long-standing relationships with broadcasters like The Foxtel Group are important for the continued success and growth of the sport.
Armit also says, “But it’s not just the world’s best male golfers that Australian golf fans will be able to watch from 2022, we are also delighted that Foxtel and Kayo will be broadcasting the AIG Women’s Open. This is a championship which is elevating the women’s game, providing a world-class platform for the incredibly talented athletes to compete for a major title along with the largest prize fund in the women’s game.”
Golf audiences have grown as the thrilling feats of the best golfers in the world are showcased, with Australia’s Cameron Smith’s rise in the world golf rankings and Lucas Herbert’s recent win on the European Tour now earning his PGA Tour card for next season, joining some of Australia’s best golfers alongside Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, Jason Day. It is the women’s game that has served up Australia’s most recent Major Champion with Minjee Lee winning The Evian Championship earlier in the year, to join the major champion list which includes fellow LPGA Tour player Hannah Green.
Foxtel and Kayo will be the only place to watch every round of The Open and programming Live and Exclusive from 2022.
The 150th Open Ticket Ballot
The 150th Open, taking place from 10-17 July 2022 in St Andrews, is set to be a true celebration of golf and the long history of golf’s original championship, as well as the many great champions who have lifted the iconic Claret Jug.
With record-breaking levels of demand anticipated for the milestone Championship at the Home of Golf, a ticket ballot has been introduced and is now open until Monday, 4 October.
The ticket ballot is available exclusively to members of The One Club, the free-to-join membership programme. Members who have already registered their interest for the ballot can now apply for tickets.
Source: Foxtel Group media release. Content has been edited for style and length.
Dee Antenor is an experienced writer who specialises in the not-for-profit sector and its affiliations. She is the content producer for Third Sector News, an online knowledge-based platform for and about the Australian NFP sector.
