Sky Sports to screen the first day of the Open Championship for free – Telegraph.co.uk

A free day pass is being offered for Thursday’s play, which begins at 6.35am and which will also be transmitted on Sky One.

With the BBC having never shown the opening tee shot of the Open live, it means Sky will not only be the first UK broadcaster to do so but will be the first to do so free of charge.

Today also sees the launch of Sky’s dedicated Open channel, Sky Sports The Open, which replaces Sky Sports 1 HD until play concludes on Sunday.

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, said: “The way people consume televised sport is changing and it is very important that we appeal to a younger audience in particular.