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Hot Topic Hawke’s Bay
Hot Topic Hawke’s Bay
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Sky snatches back European Tour golf rights

The golfing tournament was screened on Lightbox Sport last year but had "extremely limited interest." 

Chelsea Armitage
Wed, 27 Jan 2016

Sky TV has regained the rights to broadcast the European Tour after Lightbox Sport relinquished them due to “extremely limited interest.”

In a note to subscribers earlier this month, the streaming service announced the 2016 European Tour would no longer be available to view on its World Golf Pass.

“We have ceded the rights to broadcast these events and instead have chosen to focus our attention to the PGA Tour and accompanying tours – the LPGA, US PGA championship and the 2016 Ryder Cup,” the statement read.

Lightbox Sport says it will focus on delivering its customers “the best golf in the world that they also care about.”

Sky confirmed rumours it would pick up the rights to the tour again after losing them to Lightbox in 2014 by announcing a five-year contract this morning.

The first event, the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, will tee off today and the Asian Tour will begin screening tomorrow with the SMBC Singapore Open.

Lightbox gained the rights to the tour in late 2014 when it teamed up with Coliseum Sports Media to form a 50-50 joint venture called Lightbox Sport.

Lightbox Sport also holds rights to a small number of football and rugby championships and has been contacted for comment on the future of its offerings.   

Chelsea Armitage
Wed, 27 Jan 2016
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Sky snatches back European Tour golf rights
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