Sky Sports will offer round the clock digital coverage of The Open for a new generation of golf fans, as research reveals over half (54%) of under-25 sports fans say that being able to access sports content on different devices is important to their lifestyles. ¹

Sky Sports’ coverage from Troon will include:

• Up to 20 real time clips on Twitter per day

• Behind the scenes access with a social media reporter at Troon 

• A new enhanced live Open service for iPad

• Live streaming on skysports.com, Sky Sports for Smartphone, the red button and the enhanced live Open service for iPad

• A live online blog and comprehensive near-live clips on both skysports.com and Sky Sports for Smartphone

• Video on demand clips and multi-feeds via Sky Q

Sky’s digital offering follows research carried out by Ipsos MORI for Sky Sports, which also found that a quarter of under 25 sports fans are watching live sport online more often than a year ago.

David Gibbs, Digital Director at Sky Sports said: “There is a huge appetite from sports fans to access action wherever they are, particularly among the under 25s.  With 94% now owning a smartphone² they are a generation who are always on and we want to meet their demand for sport.  Our first ever Open coverage across social media, online and TV, will give fans the opportunity to follow the tournament whenever and wherever they are.”

As well as watching more sport online, many under 25s are also looking to online for other sports content compared to a year ago.  18% said they use websites more, with 15% stating an increase in app usage to read about sport.  81% agreed that it is easier than ever to access the sports content they want. 

Sky’s new enhanced live Open service for iPad will include leaderboards,scores, social feeds, player updates as well as feature holes and live streaming. 

Two live streams will be available, following groups and certain key holes on various days across the weekend on skysports.com, Sky Sports for Smartphone, the red button and the enhanced live app.  As well as near live clips and a live online blog for those unable to watch the full coverage, or who want to re-watch key moments.

Fans will also be able to get exclusive behind the scenes access with pro-golfer and Sky commentator Henni Zuel, the tournament’s dedicated social media reporter, offering insight across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.  And building on a partnership between Sky Sports and Twitter, there will be up to 20 real-time clips per day.

There will also be extensive coverage on Sky Q via the red button, including multi-feeds, highlights, interviews and course information videos on demand.  While the Sky Sports News HQ app will feature a dedicated Open section with video on demand clips and a live top 10 leaderboard.

This is all in addition to the new dedicated Sky Sports Open channel, which will offer ten days of programming including live coverage of all four days’ play and practice rounds, evening highlights of each day’s play plus a host of documentaries and shows.

All four Majors and the Ryder Cup are available to those that subscribe to Sky Sports and to non-subscribers through NOW TV, the UK’s leading streaming service available on 60 devices, which offers access to all seven sport channels for £6.99 a day or through a week pass at £10.99. 

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the survey

Ipsos MORI conducted an online quota survey between 24th February and 7th March 2016. 

A sample of 1,999 adults aged 18-65 across Great Britain were interviewed (with quotas on age, gender, region and working status) and this was boosted with an additional sample of 252 18-24 year olds in Great Britain (with quotas on gender, region and working status). Samples have been combined and data are weighted by age, gender, region and working status to the profile of the adult population aged 18-65 in Great Britain

Of these 2,251 adults aged 18-65, 1,119 gave a score of 6-10 out of 10 when asked the extent to which they are personally interested in watching, listening or reading about sport and were classed as sports fans for the purpose of the survey. 250 of these sports fans were aged 18-24.

To minimise the impact of the online methodology, a separate calibration exercise was conducted, with key questions included on Ipsos MORI’s nationally representative face to face omnibus (“Capibus”). Ipsos MORI interviewed a quota sample of 2,011 adults aged 15+ in GB between 19th February and 17th March 2016. Data are weighted to a nationally representative profile. 541 adults aged 18-65 were defined as sports fans and asked key questions related to sports consumption. 

Online data are weighted to the proportions established on Capibus in terms of: % watching live sport over the internet within the last 2-3 months; % reading about sport via digital newspapers or magazines (online) at least once a month; % reading about sport online via a website using any device at least once a month; % reading about sport online via an app using a tablet or smartphone at least once a month

About Sky 

Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 21 million customers across five countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.

Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of £4.9 billion. The group employs 30,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).

For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate

_{[1] IPSOS Mori online survey of sports fans – see notes to editors
[2] IPSOS Mori Sky Tech Tracker}