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he Foxtel Group has announced a new multi-year agreement with The R&A to show every round of The Open live and exclusive on Foxtel and Kayo from 2022 onwards.
The AIG Women’s Open and the Senior Open presented by Rolex will also be available to watch live on Kayo Freebies, as Foxtel looks to broaden its golf coverage.
Championships, preview shows and highlights are also amongst the live and exclusives on Foxtel and Kayo.
With 2.4 million subscriptions to Foxtel and Kayo and up 26% from last year, the renewed partnership will see viewers receive exclusive access to more content, programming, and overall coverage.
Foxtel Group commercial director, Rebecca McCloy, said: “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,” McCloy said.
The R&A CEO, Neil Armit, said Australia has a long history with The Open, and the standing relationship with Foxtel Group is vital for the continued growth and success of the sport.
“Australia has a long and storied history with The Open, starting with Peter Thompson, who became the first Australian to lift the Claret Jug when he won the 83rd Open in 1954 and again in 1955, 1956, 1958 and 1965,” Armit said.
“Kel Nagle, Greg Norman and Ian Baker-Finch have all earned the title of Champion Golfer of the year, and thanks to our relationship with the Foxtel Group, golf fans will be able to watch the current wave of home-grown talent compete in The Open.
“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 partnerships with broadcasters like The Foxtel Group are important for the continued success and growth of the sport,” he said.
Armit also said he is excited that golf fans will also be able to watch the AIG Women’s Open.
“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 Group and Kayo will be broadcasting the AIG Women’s Open,” Armit said.
“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,” he said.
