Masters to Lengthen Coverage in 2011


Augusta National Golf Club chairman Billy Payne said Tuesday that ESPN's weekday coverage of the 2011 Masters Tournament will start at 3 p.m., an hour earlier than this year. The coverage will end at 7:30 p.m.

Payne also said that the BBC will share coverage of the year's first major championship with Sky Sports in 2011.

"We consider ourselves fortunate to have two committed television partners who are able to reach both new and established audiences throughout the United Kingdom," Payne said. "This agreement was successful in both preserving a long-term partnership and adding a new dimension to our coverage in the UK."

"The BBC is very proud we have broadcast the Masters every year since 1986 and we are delighted that this new deal enables us to continue this relationship," added Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport.

"It means terrestrial audiences can continue to enjoy live coverage of the concluding rounds of this hugely prestigious tournament on BBC TV, alongside our comprehensive coverage on radio and online."

It's expected that television coverage of the 2011 Masters, the 75th anniversary of the event, will reach more than 200 countries next year.