More snooker on BBC
The BBC has signed a new deal to screen the World and UK championships, Masters and Welsh Open until the end of the 2013/2014 snooker season. The contract extends the BBC's deal with World Snooker by three years."We are absolutely thrilled to extend our partnership with the BBC for a further three years.The deal strengthens our foundations and allows us to keep pushing forward with the sport's new era.", said World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn.
Australian Neil Robertson is the current world champion after he beat Graeme Dott in the 2010 final and Hearn cited that tournament's viewing figures as evidence of snooker's public appeal.
"Last year the World Championship reached 18.7 million people across the tournament, showing there is a big appetite for the sport," he added.
"The World Championship, which has been extensively covered by the BBC every year since 1978, as well as the Masters, the UK Championship and the Welsh Open, has become part of the sporting fabric of the nation. These events are among the jewels in the crown of the sporting calendar and it is fantastic that they are to remain on the BBC."
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry added: "Ever since I've played snooker, the BBC has been the main broadcaster for our sport. The biggest tournaments belong on the BBC so it's excellent news that we've extended the deal."
BBC director of sport Barbara Slater said: "We're delighted to have renewed our partnership with World Snooker. The BBC has a proud history of coverage of top-class snooker and we're looking forward to continuing to bring the highest quality coverage to our audiences."
Source: bbc.co.uk
0 comments:
Post a Comment