We still get relief from Sky on Masters weekend.

BBC extends deal to show live coverage of Saturday and Sunday at the masters.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/39265633


Although fails to mention for how long. Even if it is only one year it is a relief to know we are spared at least some of the wrist slashing inducing Bruce Critchley.

I like the BBC coverage so I'm happy, besides I don't have Sky sports. I did watch the par 3 comp for the first time on Sky's free coverage day last year and was pretty underwhelmed by it all (although even that course looks mint).

BBC perfect for me this year as I get back from Dubai on the Friday and can sit in the relative cold of my house and reacclimatise on Saturday and Sunday whilst basking at the vistas on screen.

Mac, it says it's extended by 2 years, though I don't know when it originally runs out.

Feel sorry for you guys who will watch the dreadful apathetic BBC coverage instead of the brilliant job Sky do. I guess you can always mute the TV to avoid listening to Alliss wittering on with his outdated and sexist views.

I'm not a fan of Roe or Critchley but the rest of the team is great. And even those two have more insight because they are covering golf every week instead of once a year.

The thing I hate about Sky, is not the actual golf, but the constant ad breaks for all the gypo betting sites. I know it's their demographic, but there must be a better way.

I agree the adverts are annoying. They minimised them last year, same with the Open, but I expect they will gradually extend them now.

I tend to watch on delay and then fast forward the ads. It's only at the end of play on Sunday evening where I'm ever watching live.

Super

What is a "gypo" betting site?

A bit like your "common" behaviour of Crossfield, perhaps appealing to the lower end of society.

I use the red button to follow a group or a few holes.....

The BBC coverage for golf is outdated...

I like the BBC coverage, but it's somewhat ruined by the fact it needs to fill the American ad breaks.

All timings for Masters are I believe dictated by Augusta National. Fewer ad breaks in US than for other tournaments - unless any of our US correspondents can confirm otherwise?

I think you're right Sky made a point of saying ad breaks were only going to be a minute or two, that's when they first got coverage! Not sure anymore if that's true

raycastleunited wrote:Feel sorry for you guys who will watch the dreadful apathetic BBC coverage instead of the brilliant job Sky do. I guess you can always mute the TV to avoid listening to Alliss wittering on with his outdated and sexist views.

I'm not a fan of Roe or Critchley but the rest of the team is great. And even those two have more insight because they are covering golf every week instead of once a year.

I think just about everyone else takes the opposite view. And just how much insight do you need to know that Bubba and Dustin won't be happy they went in the bunker? I know Sky does have the living decoration in a short skirt, but I can just about suspend my libido long enough for someone to win a claret jug or a green jacket. And even if I can't, there are specialist tv channels I can switch to. Or so I have been told...

puligny wrote:All timings for Masters are I believe dictated by Augusta National. Fewer ad breaks in US than for other tournaments - unless any of our US correspondents can confirm otherwise?

Yup, usually only about four x one-minute ad breaks an hour - lots of other fluff however, though none of the short-skirted variety. Good thing considering the possibilities . . . . . .

Monty in a short skirt?

Now why did you have to say that? Arf arf!!

George1507 wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:Feel sorry for you guys who will watch the dreadful apathetic BBC coverage instead of the brilliant job Sky do. I guess you can always mute the TV to avoid listening to Alliss wittering on with his outdated and sexist views.

I'm not a fan of Roe or Critchley but the rest of the team is great. And even those two have more insight because they are covering golf every week instead of once a year.

I think just about everyone else takes the opposite view. And just how much insight do you need to know that Bubba and Dustin won't be happy they went in the bunker? I know Sky does have the living decoration in a short skirt, but I can just about suspend my libido long enough for someone to win a claret jug or a green jacket. And even if I can't, there are specialist tv channels I can switch to. Or so I have been told...

Count me in the minority then - I agree with rayc 100%

I'm no fan of Crutchley or Roe and I'd add the dreadful sycophantic Livingstone and Murray to that list too - however, the old A-team for the Sky broadcasts are rapidly becoming the B team with the newer presenters and commentators gradually taking over

I'd rather have them over Alliss any day - and these other characters the Beeb have brought in just give any coverage that CBBC feel

Davie

What do you make of Dougherty?

DiDo? Or Nick?

I assume you mean Nick - and while I was very uninpressed with him for the first few appearances but he seems to be coming along very well

Why do you ask about him particularly?

Radar is the best golf commentator around. However not sure if he will be let loose around ANGC, I know they literally keep them penned in.

This year I will be watching first two days on Sky before flying to Seattle to watch the rest! Not sure though I will be able to take Jim Nantz for a whole weekend mind.
What is the equivalent of 5 Live radio in the US as will be driving Saturday afternoon?

Snap, I think you can get PGA tour coverage on Sirius satellite radio and there's PGA Tour radio available online through http://pgatour.cbssports.com/liveaudio
Weekend play by play coverage is being broadcast from 1pm Eastern Time

CBS let Ken Brown have a couple of cameos last year, first time ever, but they pretty much shut him down for the bulk of their weekend coverage, to their detriment.

Radar would be a shock to CBS's system; their coverage gets worse from year to year. Sycophantics united.

Thanks Kwini re radio options. It appears Sky have put a block on using the app outside the Uk even using a proxy IP., so no go on that front.

Shame, Re Ken Brown he is not on UK coverage enough, knows his stuff, but no doubt seen as a little eccentric across the pond! . Anyway always got the option of the mute button and just saviour it for what it is - a great course and occasion.

Doesnt Ken Brown do all the Euro Tour events for the whole just not the UK.

Honestly the coverage on both is much of a muchness. One is not considerably better than the other. I dont dislike Alliss, but he is only on for stints at a time.

I'll watch Sky on the Thursday / Friday and BBC on Saturday / Sunday.

Mainly because I don't like adverts but also because I think Monty is the worst sports commentator there has ever been.

I try to make up for it on the Thursday / Friday by playing the Monty drinking game where you take a sip of your favourite beverage everytime he says "Ummmm" although by doing this I'm normally blind drunk by 7pm.

Monty might be bad, but he's nowhere near as bad as Sam Torrance was who was consistently spunking his pants everytime 9C came on the screen.

Thankfully Torrance doesn't seem to get any airtime these days.

I like the way they make monty sit in a childs chair. His hands nearly touch the floor, the fecking great ape!

MontysMerkin wrote:I like the way they make monty sit in a childs chair. His hands nearly touch the floor, the fecking great gorilla!

Fixed

Snap Hook wrote:Radar is the best golf commentator around.

Absolutely, and by a mile. Love listening to him.

Just wish Sky could bring Ken on the course over to the dark side.

George1507 wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:Feel sorry for you guys who will watch the dreadful apathetic BBC coverage instead of the brilliant job Sky do. I guess you can always mute the TV to avoid listening to Alliss wittering on with his outdated and sexist views.

I'm not a fan of Roe or Critchley but the rest of the team is great. And even those two have more insight because they are covering golf every week instead of once a year.

I think just about everyone else takes the opposite view.

I think what you actually mean is just about everyone in the seniors section takes the opposite view.

raycastleunited wrote:

George1507 wrote:

raycastleunited wrote:Feel sorry for you guys who will watch the dreadful apathetic BBC coverage instead of the brilliant job Sky do. I guess you can always mute the TV to avoid listening to Alliss wittering on with his outdated and sexist views.

I'm not a fan of Roe or Critchley but the rest of the team is great. And even those two have more insight because they are covering golf every week instead of once a year.

I think just about everyone else takes the opposite view.

I think what you actually mean is just about everyone in the seniors section takes the opposite view.

Nice, and uncalled for. I'm not in the Seniors' section and I loath Sky's hideous approach to golf (and other sports to be fair). I don't like the adverts and I don't like some of the vomit-inducing people they use as their 'experts'. Yes, I know; the BBC isn't perfect either.
To take your tack, I view Sky as the tabloid to the BBC's broadsheet - make of that what implications re. their viewers that you will ...

Agree that Sky is tabloid. Football very definitely, golf less so.

But BBC is not broadsheet. Did you watch any of their Open coverage last year? It was totally dumbed down.

raycastleunited wrote:
But BBC is not broadsheet. Did you watch any of their Open coverage last year? It was totally dumbed down.

Have you read a broadsheet recently? They are totally dumbed down.

My biggest beef with Sky is that you can't select golf individually, you basically have to take Skysports and subsidise the grotesque animal that is the premiership. I absolutely detest the whole principle of that, I wouldn't mind paying a reasonable subscription to watch the ET and PGAT but only being able to see those after helping fund Man Us next 200k a week dud really really sticks in the gullet. Time to explore the virtues of the Amazon fire stick and VPNs methinks.

raycastleunited wrote:Agree that Sky is tabloid. Football very definitely, golf less so.

But BBC is not broadsheet. Did you watch any of their Open coverage last year? It was totally dumbed down.

Wasn't aware they had any of the live coverage, so no, I didn't. In actual fact, I scabbed some live feed from Singapore (or some other hooky internet site) to get some of Sky's coverage of the last round when it was obviously a two-person shootout. Didn't expect it to be so good....but that was the golf Stenson and Mickleson were playing, rather than what Sky made of it.

Just got kodi installed on a firestick and have been revelling in free sky coverage. Thanks Mr Murdoch