The news today is that The Open will be moving to Sky from 2017 onwards, at least as far as live coverage is concerned. As a Sky Sports subscriber, this is no problem, but somehow it still feels like a bit of a shame, just like when they got the test matches, and when they started to pinch the live Formula One (a job they will no doubt complete over the next few years).
A time will come, and in the not too distant future, when all that will be left on terrestrial TV will be the things that Sky can't be bothered to bid for - which basically means the least popular sports.
The exceptions to this rule are the "Listed and Designated Sports" which are on Ofcom's list of things which must be on free to air TV - see this Wikipedia article for details. Basically we are safe with the World Cup (football), The Olympics, Wimbledon, and a few other bits and pieces.
I'd got it in my head that we were safe with The Open as well, but that theory got disproved today, and checking the article, it turns out that it is a "category B" event meaning that we have to get free highlights, but Sky are allowed to waltz off with the live stuff. Interestingly per the article there were some revisions proposed back in 2009 that would have done away with the B list, and The Open would have had to stay free to air for live coverage.
Clearly those proposals didn't get very far then!