Majority of golf fans advocate for broadcasting the Ryder Cup on free-to-air television channels.
The Ryder Cup, the highly anticipated golf contest between Europe and the USA, is taking place this month at Bethpage, New York. However, the event has been met with controversy and discontent among fans, with many expressing concerns about the cost and the availability of the tournament on free-to-air TV in the US.
According to a survey by National Club Golfer, an overwhelming 86% of respondents do not believe the prices for the Ryder Cup represent value for money. In particular, the cost of day tickets for this month's event has seen a significant increase, with tickets priced at $750 - a 400% increase from the last US edition in 2021.
Subscriptions to Sky Sports, one of the broadcasters offering live coverage of the event, start at £35 a month, and Now TV offers a way to watch the Ryder Cup for £35 a month or £15 a day. However, 89% of respondents in the same survey believe that live coverage of the Ryder Cup should not be behind a paywall in the US.
The Ryder Cup's classification as a Category B event means it can be shown behind a paywall as long as there is sufficient free-to-air highlights or delayed coverage. Other sports events classified as Category B include the Open Championship, home Test matches, the Six Nations, and the World Athletics Championship.
Despite the cost and broadcasting concerns, the Ryder Cup remains a significant golf event for many fans. Three-quarters of respondents opposed innovations such as mixed-gender matches, shorter contests, or celebrity involvement. Only 10% of respondents are in favour of such innovations.
The Ryder Cup has increased in popularity over the last 30 years, with the event's hosts trouncing Europe in the last US edition of the tournament, which was held at Whistling Straits in 2021. The contest is governed by the Broadcasting Act 1996, which generally restricts the rights to transmit the Ryder Cup to certain qualifying broadcasters, typically those considered to be “qualifying broadcasters” under the Act, such as public service broadcasters or certain major commercial broadcasters operating in the UK.
Ofcom monitors the crown jewels of sports broadcasting and has revised them several times, most recently in 2020, when the Paralympics and Fifa Women's World Cup were added to Category A. Examples of Category A crown jewels include the Olympic Games, football World Cups and European Championships, the Grand National and the Derby, and the finals of Wimbledon and Rugby World Cups. However, the Ryder Cup is not automatically available on free-to-air TV in the US, as it is not a Category A event.
Despite the controversy, the BBC will show daily late-night highlights of the Ryder Cup, but fans will have to pay at least £35 to Sky to access live coverage of the event. The Ryder Cup, a golf contest between Europe and the USA, has remained a popular event for fans, with 93% of respondents saying the contest should not be taken outside of Europe or the US.
