Feature
Lights, Cameras, Action
John O’Sullivan
15/09/06: Forget the begrudgers, it’s time for golf enthusiasts to close the curtains, stock up the fridge and take possession of the remote control as the Ryder Cup touches down at the K Club.
Sky Sports are the exclusive live broadcasters and couch-bound spectators who follow their coverage are unlikely to miss a sliver of action from the opening ceremony through to the final putt on the Sunday. The satellite broadcaster has trumpeted the fact that they will show more than 150 hours of Ryder Cup programming – this includes a look back at previous contests – during September, including 30 hours live coverage of the 2006 Ryder Cup over the Palmer course at the K Club.
The Sky roadshow is something of a behemoth as illustrated by some of the statistics surrounding their coverage. They will have 125 cameras present, necessitating 90 kilometres of cabling, 15 kilometres of fibre optic cabling, 45 television production cabins, six on-course studios, 30 camera towers and eight generators.
They will roll up 25 outside broadcast vans with 12 support vehicles that include catering, dining facilities and the sundry trucks that are required for Sky’s High Definition service – it’s available for the Ryder Cup – which was launched in May and offers clearer, more vibrant pictures with four times the detail of standard definition. In order to receive a HD broadcast, viewers need a compatible HD television, a Sky HD box and the relevant subscriptions.
There will be familiar voices behind the microphones and in the studio. Ewen Murray and Bruce Critchley will lead the commentating team and will be joined by Peter Oosterhuis, Ireland’s Ronan Rafferty and Butch Harmon, who will fulfil duel roles of commentators and analysts. David Livingstone will present the live coverage with former European Tour players Howard Clark, and Richard Boxall and reporter Tim Barter down for the on-course roving roles. Robert Lee will present the nightly highlights package.
Sky’s role as the host broadcaster means that they will provide the feed for both RTÉ and the BBC who must content themselves with highlights packages each day. RTÉ’s coverage will be fronted by Bill O’Herlihy in studio where he will be joined by former European Ryder Cup captain Tony Jacklin and Irish tour player Graeme McDowell. Alex Hay and Shane O’Donoghue will provide the commentary while there is a rather eclectic mix of on-course reporters in former soccer star Ray Houghton, DJ and golf enthusiast Ronan Collins and Marty Morrissey, whose tones are more familiar to GAA fans. RTÉ radio will also provide comprehensive coverage of the event.
The BBC will rely on the dulcet tones of the peerless Peter Alliss, ably supported by Ken Brown, Julian Tutt, Sam Torrance and Wayne Grady for their nightly highlights show. Radio Five Live and Five Live Sports Extra will provide a ball-by-ball account of the proceedings.
As you can see there really is no excuse for missing any of the action during what promises to be an exciting three days of competition.
TV Times
Sky Sports build-up: Monday: Sky Sports 1, How the 1995 Ryder Cup was Won (2pm-4pm); Sky Sports 1, How the 1997 Ryder Cup was Won (4pm-6pm). Wednesday: Sky Sports 1, How the 2002 Ryder Cup was Won (3.30pm-11pm). Thursday: Sky Sports 1, The Full Monty was Won (1pm-3pm).
Sky Sports Live coverage: Thursday: Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD, The Opening Ceremony (3pm-5pm). Friday: Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD, Day One (7am-6.30pm). Saturday: Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD, Day Two (7am-6.30pm). Sunday: Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports HD, The Singles (10am-7.30pm). Highlights: Each day from 6.30pm-9.30pm on Sky Sports 1.
BBC Highlights: Friday: BBC 2, (8.30pm-10.30pm). Saturday: BBC 2, (8.30pm-10.30pm). Sunday: BBC 2, (7.30pm-9.30pm).
RTÉ Highlights: Friday, RTÉ 2 (6pm-9pm). Saturday, RTÉ 2 (6pm-9pm). Sunday, RTÉ 2 (6pm-9pm).