Taylor's efforts to get Ko's appearance at the open at the end of the month broadcast were looking hopeful, with several companies offering to assist free of charge, until the tournament controller called yesterday saying it would not be possible because of ''rights'' issues.
That Ko's return to New Zealand after becoming the youngest golfer to be ranked world No 1 would not be broadcast was an ''outrage'', he said last night.
He was disappointed with the tournament organisers, saying if people were ''really serious'' they could get around the rights issues.
''Instead of going to a tournament that is televised in Asia, she has chosen to come home.
''So the least we could do is to say 'thanks for coming home. We are going to break all the rules and we are going to cover you'.
''The last person who held that record was Tiger Woods and when [he] came to New Zealand we bent over backwards to do stuff live.''
Before the call from organisers, Taylor had received offers from a large company to do online streaming and four private production companies and a cameraman to cover the event at the Clearwater course in Christchurch at the end of the month.
No television company had committed to covering the open, baulking at the $500,000 price for live coverage.
He was also disappointed Coliseum Sports Media was not getting involved.
Coliseum has the rights for the bulk of golf broadcast in New Zealand through a pass which allows internet coverage.
''Coliseum has never shown any interest in covering any local golf. That appears to be the way things are going.
"As more and more overseas events go on to online coverage, how many of these local events are going to be covered? More New Zealand sports will suffer.''
Coliseum Sports Media chief executive Tim Martin completely rejected Taylor's argument, saying he failed to see the link between Coliseum's coverage and the failure to broadcast the tournament.
''I do not understand that comment at all. We have not got the rights to the event. We don't do local production. That is not a skill set we have,'' Martin said.
''The rights to sell tournaments are with the organisers. We don't have them.''
He had had discussions with New Zealand Golf and they were working hard together but nothing had been finalised.
He said Sky had the facilities to cover the open.
Sky Television corporate communications director Kirsty Way said the cost of covering the women's open was far too much.
But the channel would screen some delayed coverage of the Clearwater tournament.
She confirmed the channel, which lost the rights to many golf tournaments last year to Coliseum, would provide live coverage of the men's New Zealand Open at Millbrook and The Hills in Queenstown next month.
Details and costs were still being finalised.
