NEW DELHI: Discovery teed off its newly branded ‘GOLFTV’ streaming service in India Wednesday with the European Tour’s ongoing Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (running through to January 19), while confirming that “full coverage” of the PGA Tour would start late February, a good three years ahead of its original schedule for this market.
When Discovery signed its $2 billion deal with the PGA last year (it runs for 12 years), it had been announced that GOLFTV would replace the PGA Tour Live streaming service in international markets through a staggered rollout. The deal includes live rights outside the United States to 150 tournaments that operate under the PGA Tour’s jurisdiction, including the Players Championship, FedEx Cup Playoffs and the Presidents Cup.
As per the rollout schedule that was originally announced, coverage of live events is to tee off in Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia and Spain in the course of this year. Poland and South Korea will follow in 2020, and Belgium, China, Germany and South Africa in 2021. Pertinently, it was only in 2022 that GOLFTV was to launch in India, along with Britain, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, while France is to launch in 2024.
The decision looks to have been made easier after Sony Pictures Networks India discontinued TEN Golf – the only dedicated golf channel broadcasting in India – effective January 1.
Content that was being telecast on TEN Golf HD has been moved to SPN’s OTT platform SonyLIV.
SPN inherited TEN Golf when it acquired the TEN Sports Network from the Zee Group in August 2016.
TEN Golf was launched in March 2012 as a dedicated 24-hour golf channel airing a mix of live, non-live and feature programming. It was re-launched as an HD channel in October 2015.
GOLFTV in November 2018 had signed on 80-time PGA Tour winner and 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods as part of their strategic partnership for exclusive content.
Among the plans, Woods and GOLFTV are collaborating to develop:
• Weekly practice and instructional videos to improve your game;
• Exclusive access into Tiger’s preparation routines;
• Behind-the-scenes access before and after PGA TOUR rounds;
• Unique and exclusive post-round commentary.
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TEN Golf HD ceases television broadcast
