BBC To Continue To Broadcast Snooker's Biggest Tournaments

The BBC has extended its deal with World Snooker.

The firm will continue to broadcast three of snooker's biggest tournaments until the end of the 2018/19 season.

Extending the current agreement by two years, the new deal sees the BBC continue as host TV broadcaster of the three events known collectively as the Triple Crown - World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters.

Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, said: "With another exciting World Championships drawing to a close, there is no better time to reinforce our commitment to one of our nation's most treasured sports.

"This deal keeps the three biggest tournaments in the snooker calendar on the BBC until 2019, and we know there will be millions of snooker fans across the country celebrating the fact that they can continue to watch world-class snooker on free-to-air television."

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn says: "Our agreement with the BBC is one of the cornerstones of our sport, and we are delighted to extend it for an extra two years. These three major tournaments are much loved by the public - they are part of the fabric of British sport.

"The BBC's coverage of the World Championship last year alone was watched by over 15 million people, proving how popular our sport is."

www.bbc.co.uk