Sky Sports has signed a deal to show coverage of the Asian Tour from now until the end of 2012.
Asian Tour signs up with Sky Sports until 2012
The Asian Tour has signed a landmark agreement with
Sky Sports to air live, highlights and magazines shows in the United Kingdom and Ireland from now until the end of 2012.
Following Y.E. Yang's victory in the USPGA Championship, the Asian Tour's reputation for cultivating world beaters has been strengthened. Yang, KJ Choi, Vijay Singh, Jeev Milka Singh and Thongchai Jaidee all honed their skills on the Asian Tour and have established themselves on the world stage.
Sky Sports viewers will be able to see them and the new crop of Asian Tour stars thanks to this new agreement.
The events to be broadcast this year are:
LIVENovember 5-8: HSBC Champions Tour (Shanghai, China)
November 12-15: UBS Hong Kong Open (Hong Kong)
November 26-29: Omega Mission Hills World Cup (Shenzhen, China)
HIGHLIGHTSSeptember 10-13: Macau Open (Macau)
October 22-25: Iskandar Johor Open (Malaysia)
November 19-22: Johnnie Walker Open (Siem Reap, Cambodia)
With
Sky Sports already broadcasting tournaments in Asia which are co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, the addition of the full Asian Tour schedule will provide
Sky Sports viewers with all the very best action from across the region.
Eric Lynge, Senior Director, TV and Commercial Affairs, Asian Tour said: "We are very excited to partner with
Sky Sports to broadcast Asian Tour events across their bandwidth and join the fine stable of golf programming already on offer on Sky Channels.
"As the leading satellite broadcaster in the UK and Ireland, our partnership with
Sky Sports is further evidence of the growth of the Asian Tour onto the world stage and a recognition of our product and players.
"We believe this milestone will further pave the way for the Asian Tour to raise our profile internationally while also adding substantial value for
Sky Sports and its viewers."
Jason Wessely,
Sky Sports Executive Golf Producer, said: "Sky has a fantastic calendar of golf with golf programming every week of the year. The addition of the Asian Tour programming to the schedule further adds to our depth of coverage which brings a rich pedigree of golf from across the world."
For years, the Asian Tour has provided the springboard to greater fame of players like Korea's K.J. Choi and Charlie Wi, India's Arjun Atwal and Jeev Milka Singh, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng, and China's Liang Wen-chong.
International players have also benefited tremendously through their experience of competing on the Asian Tour with the likes of England's Simon Dyson, American Ted Purdy, Australians John Senden, Andrew Buckle and Jarrod Lyle enjoying success in Asia before moving onto bigger things in Europe and the United States.
With a new and exciting crop of golfers representing no fewer than 27 different nationalities and the Asian Tour spanning across 16 countries,
Sky Sports viewers will now be able to watch promising talents from across Asia and the world competing at scenic locations around the region.
