PGA Tour and LPGA Coverage returns to Sky
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (June 10, 2016) – The PGA TOUR and the LPGA jointly announced today agreements with SKY that will return their tournament coverage to broadcast television. The LPGA conversion begins this week with coverage of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. PGA TOUR coverage will switch back to SKY for The Greenbrier Classic, the week of July 4-10.
The PGA TOUR and LPGA, through separate agreements with Coliseum Sports Media (CSM)/Lightbox, launched OTT subscription services in 2015 known as PGA TOUR LIVE and World Golf Pass, respectively.
While subscriber levels were healthy and the product was excellent, it became apparent after more than a year that many New Zealand golf fans did not have the necessary comfort in their broadband connectivity to maximize the viewing experience. The best course of action was to return to broadcast television and SKY Sport, which held broadcast rights to both Tours prior to their move to the OTT service.
PGA TOUR coverage will remain on PGA TOUR LIVE until the week of The Greenbrier Classic, at which time existing subscribers will be fully refunded for the remainder of their subscription. SKY will also provide PGA TOUR LIVE subscribers with a free installation for those wishing to continue watching the PGA TOUR and LPGA on the network.
The PGA TOUR will maintain an OTT presence in New Zealand through its global product, also called PGA TOUR LIVE, which provides live coverage of early-round Featured Groups as well as Featured Hole coverage. This service will be provided for free to existing PGA TOUR LIVE subscribers through the end of the year.
